Mosasaurus

Mosasaurus hoffmannii, Mantell, 1829

This is de skull of a Mosasaurus, in Dutch: MAASHAGEDIS. It was found in Utah. Why then is it called Maashagedis? It never swam in the River Maas. At the time this animal was alive, the river Maas did not exist. And the province of Limburg was part of the bottom of the sea. Well then, the first fossil remains were discovered in a limestone quarry at Maastricht on the Meuse in 1764. It is named after the place where the first fossil of this species was found.

Was it a carnivore or an herbivore? How can you tell that? You can tell that by its teeth. They have one kind of teeth: sharp pointed teeth. Those are for grabbing and holding its prey, and tearing off pieces. If a piece is small enough to swallow, it can easily be digested.