Science 72 million-year-old mosasaurs unearthed in Wakayama

The fossils belong to a never-before-seen species of mosasaur — a group of air-breathing aquatic reptiles that were apex marine predators during the Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years ago). Researchers wrote in a statement that the "astounding" remains are the most complete mosasaur fossils ever uncovered in Japan and the northwest Pacific. In a new study published on 11 December in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, researchers named the new mosasaur Megapterygius wakayamaensis. The new genus Megapterygius translates to "large-winged" after the creature's unusually large rear flippers and the species name wakayamaensis recognizes the prefecture where it was found. The team nicknamed the creature the Wakayama Soryu — a soryu- a blue-colored aquatic dragon from Japanese mythology.

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72 million-year-old 'blue dragon' unearthed in Japan is unlike anything we've ever seen, experts say

The near-complete remains of a never-before-seen mosasaur that dominated the ancient Pacific Ocean have been unearthed in Japan. The great white shark-size creature is unlike any other aquatic animal, dead or alive.

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