{"product_id":"tylosaurus-proriger-dolichorhynchops-osborni","title":"Tylosaurus proriger \/ Dolichorhynchops osborni","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"relative basis-auto flex-col -mb-(--composer-overlap-px) pb-(--composer-overlap-px) [--composer-overlap-px:28px] grow flex\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex min-h-0 grow flex-col text-sm\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a5dbd41-4b78-83eb-bdb1-9c8884dec0d4-8\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-6a5dbd41-4b78-83eb-bdb1-9c8884dec0d4-8\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a5dbd41-4b78-83eb-bdb1-9c8884dec0d4-8\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-16\" data-turn=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"5d5f42b6-2aad-4b78-a214-b755c42a4858\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-6-thinking\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"704\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"25\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1\" data-end=\"24\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e was a large mosasaurid marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous of North America, known primarily from fossil remains recovered from the Niobrara Formation, especially the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of Kansas, within deposits of the former Western Interior Seaway. Originally described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1869, this taxon represents one of the classic species of Mosasauridae and one of the best-documented large marine predators of the Late Cretaceous in North America. Although its overall appearance may evoke that of a gigantic marine crocodile or monitor lizard, \u003cem data-start=\"597\" data-end=\"609\"\u003eTylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e was neither a dinosaur nor a crocodylian, but a marine squamate related to lizards and snakes.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"706\" data-end=\"1329\"\u003eGeologically, \u003cem data-start=\"720\" data-end=\"741\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e is mainly associated with the Late Santonian to Early–Middle Campanian of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 86–80 million years ago, when warm and relatively shallow seas covered much of central North America. The species is especially well represented in Kansas, where the Niobrara Formation has yielded skulls, partial skeletons, vertebrae, flippers and specimens from different ontogenetic stages. Smithsonian institutional records document material of \u003cem data-start=\"1199\" data-end=\"1220\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e from the Niobrara Formation of Kansas, including skulls as well as axial and appendicular skeletal elements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1886\"\u003eFrom a morphometric perspective, \u003cem data-start=\"1364\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e was one of the largest mosasaurs of its time. Large adult individuals may have reached approximately 10–12 metres in total length, although size varied according to age, specimen and estimation method. Its body was long, hydrodynamic and powerfully adapted for swimming, with limbs transformed into flippers, a propulsive tail and a large head equipped with robust jaws. Like other tylosaurines, adults comfortably exceeded 8 metres in length and displayed the proportions of large pelagic predators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1888\" data-end=\"2508\"\u003eThe most distinctive anatomical feature of \u003cem data-start=\"1931\" data-end=\"1952\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e was its elongated, toothless anterior snout, formed by a premaxillary extension projecting in front of the tooth row. This ram-like rostrum, characteristic of tylosaurines, gave the skull a highly recognisable silhouette and may have been involved in ramming behaviour, intraspecific contact, attacks on prey, or mechanical reinforcement of the anterior snout region. Identification of \u003cem data-start=\"2339\" data-end=\"2352\"\u003eT. proriger\u003c\/em\u003e specimens has been linked in particular to this large predental rostral extension, together with features of the parietal, quadrate and postorbital region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2510\" data-end=\"3049\"\u003eThe skull of \u003cem data-start=\"2523\" data-end=\"2544\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e was elongated and powerful, with conical, recurved teeth adapted for gripping large prey. Unlike durophagous mosasaurs such as \u003cem data-start=\"2672\" data-end=\"2683\"\u003eGlobidens\u003c\/em\u003e, which were specialised for crushing shells, \u003cem data-start=\"2729\" data-end=\"2741\"\u003eTylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e was a macrocarnivorous predator capable of capturing large bony fishes, sharks, seabirds, turtles, plesiosaurs and even other mosasaurs. Its dentition and jaw architecture indicate a feeding strategy based on grasping, puncturing and tearing large prey within a marine food web dominated by large predators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3051\" data-end=\"3661\"\u003eThe postcranial anatomy of \u003cem data-start=\"3078\" data-end=\"3099\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e reflects complete adaptation to marine life. Its forelimbs and hind limbs were transformed into flippers, the body was fusiform, and the tail would have played a crucial role in propulsion. Like other mosasaurs, it was not capable of efficient locomotion on land, but was fully adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. Studies of craniofacial ontogeny in \u003cem data-start=\"3447\" data-end=\"3459\"\u003eTylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e also show that the characteristic predental rostrum developed early during growth and that the species has a sufficiently extensive fossil record to study changes in size and shape throughout ontogeny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3663\" data-end=\"4290\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"3663\" data-end=\"3684\"\u003eTylosaurus proriger\u003c\/em\u003e inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, a vast epicontinental sea that divided North America during the Late Cretaceous. In these waters it lived alongside ammonites, large bony fishes such as \u003cem data-start=\"3877\" data-end=\"3890\"\u003eXiphactinus\u003c\/em\u003e, sharks such as \u003cem data-start=\"3907\" data-end=\"3921\"\u003eCretoxyrhina\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"3926\" data-end=\"3939\"\u003eSqualicorax\u003c\/em\u003e, marine turtles, plesiosaurs, seabirds and other mosasaurs. Within this ecosystem, \u003cem data-start=\"4023\" data-end=\"4035\"\u003eTylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e occupied one of the highest trophic levels, acting as an apex predator in open marine and deeper coastal environments. Its extensive representation in the Niobrara Formation makes it one of the most iconic species of the Cretaceous seas of North America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4292\" data-end=\"4337\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4292\" data-end=\"4337\"\u003eApproximate Tylosaurus Replica Dimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4339\" data-end=\"4451\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4339\" data-end=\"4370\"\u003e1:57 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4370\" data-end=\"4373\"\u003eLength: 127 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4387\" data-end=\"4390\"\u003eHeight: 50 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4403\" data-end=\"4406\"\u003eWidth: 116 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4418\" data-end=\"4421\"\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 176 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4453\" data-end=\"4563\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4453\" data-end=\"4484\"\u003e1:35 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4484\" data-end=\"4487\"\u003eLength: 206 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4501\" data-end=\"4504\"\u003eHeight: 83 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4517\" data-end=\"4520\"\u003eWidth: 188 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4532\" data-end=\"4535\"\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 285 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Miniature Museum","offers":[{"title":"1:57 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":62071746625804,"sku":"DC-1557-157-SINI","price":52.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:57 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":62071746658572,"sku":"DC-1557-157-IMPRI","price":57.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:57 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":62071746691340,"sku":"DC-1557-157-PINTA","price":193.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":62071746724108,"sku":"DC-1557-135-SINI","price":83.3,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":62071746756876,"sku":"DC-1557-135-IMPRI","price":90.3,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":62071746789644,"sku":"DC-1557-135-PINTA","price":249.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/1106\/7660\/files\/Tylosaurusproriger_5.jpg?v=1788802621","url":"https:\/\/dinosauriacreatures.com\/en\/products\/tylosaurus-proriger-dolichorhynchops-osborni","provider":"Dinosauria Creatures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}