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Giant Vertebra Found Near Starkville by Mississippi Geologists; Specimen Belongs to Mosasaurus hoffmannii and May Have Reached 9 Meters in Length.
Geologists from the United States have found a fossil in east-central Mississippi that may be the largest mosasaur ever identified in the state.
The discovery was made during a study of rock layers in the area near Starkville.
The find surprised scientists due to the size of the bone: a vertebra over 18 centimeters in diameter.
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An Unexpected Discovery
During a routine excavation, James Starnes, a geologist from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, spotted something unusual among the sediments.
Together with colleagues Jonathan Leard and Tim Palmer, he identified the fossilized vertebra and immediately knew it was something special.
“I was completely blown away by the size,” said Starnes. “The feeling you get when you find a fossil, even as a professional, never gets old.”
Identification of the Fossil
The bone was handed over to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
There, paleontologists confirmed it belonged to a Mosasaurus hoffmannii, one of the largest known species of mosasaur.
Based on the size of the vertebra, experts estimate that the animal was at least nine meters long.
“This was a true sea monster,” stated Starnes. “It is larger than most dinosaurs that roamed the land.”
Life in the Ancient Sea of Mississippi
The sea giant lived about 66 million years ago, during the end of the Cretaceous period. At that time, the area where Mississippi is located today was covered by a shallow, warm sea.
The site was home to various extinct marine animals, such as sharks, ammonites, and other aquatic reptiles.
According to Starnes, flying creatures like pterosaurs were soaring in the area, while terrestrial dinosaurs walked through the nearby forests and beaches.
Ocean Predators
Mosasurs, including M. hoffmannii, were the dominant predators of the Mesozoic seas. They had elongated bodies, powerful tails, and limbs adapted like paddles.
With sharp teeth, they could feed on fish, mollusks, and even other mosasurs.
“While dinosaurs ruled the land, these oceans were likely the most dangerous of any era in the history of our planet,” reported the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Fossil Legacy
Despite disappearing after an asteroid collided with Earth about 66 million years ago, mosasurs continue to spark scientific interest.
In 2022, another mosasaur fossil was discovered in the northeast of the state, even containing the animal’s skull.
The recent discovery reinforces Mississippi’s potential as a fossil-rich region and contributes to the understanding of marine life in the Cretaceous.
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