Victoria AdolphusMosasaurs, the iconic extinct marine lizards, continue to fascinate and surprise us. Recent research, based on new technologies and fossil discoveries, has shed light on their evolution, feeding habits, and phylogenetic relationships, revealing astonishing aspects of their behavior, including cannibalism.
Mosasaurs: A Textbook Example of Macroevolution
Mosasaurs were first discovered in 1766 near Maastricht in the Netherlands, marking the beginning of vertebrate paleontology. Palaeontologist Michael Polcyn’s comprehensive study on the early evolution and ecology of these ancient sea predators has provided significant insights into their relationships and behaviors.
Advancements in Paleontological Methods
Polcyn’s research has utilized advanced imaging technologies, such as micro-CT scanning, to study the internal structures of mosasaur braincases and sort out their early evolutionary relationships. This study has not only addressed the early evolution of the group but also explored small- and large-scale aspects of their feeding biology.
Cannibalism in Mosasaurs: A Shocking Discovery
One remarkable finding was the discovery of a fossilized mosasaur with three other mosasaurs in its stomach, one being the same species as the predator. This documented example of cannibalism in mosasaurs has provided a unique glimpse into their feeding habits and behavior.
Evolutionary Insights from Fossil Discoveries
Mosasaurs belong to a group of lizards that took to the sea about 100 million years ago. Throughout their 34-million-year history, they evolved into well-adapted marine animals that occupied a wide variety of niches and habitats. Polcyn’s work has helped resolve a long-running scientific debate, concluding that mosasaurs are not closely related to snakes but are instead closely related to monitor lizards.
Unveiling Dietary Behaviors Through Fossil Evidence
Polcyn’s research has also provided insights into the feeding habits of mosasaurs, including how they processed their prey and the relative body size of prey and predator. A large-scale study of mosasaur feeding behavior has illuminated patterns of foraging area segregation and feeding diversity in mosasaurs.
A Non-Traditional Path to Paleontology
Polcyn’s entry into paleontology followed a non-traditional academic path. After serving in the U.S. submarine service and a career in technology and engineering, he devoted himself to paleontology, earning his PhD from Utrecht University for his groundbreaking research on mosasaur evolution.
