Meet the monsters of the Jurassic seas

Ichthyosaur

Fans of the Ice Age film franchise will recognise the character Cretaceous, an ancient marine reptile that had been frozen in ice millions of years before the events of Ice Age. But did you know that Cretaceous is actually an ichthyosaur (ICK-thee-oh-sore), one of the most fearsome reptiles of the Jurassic oceans?

Many species of ichthyosaur were top predators that had evolved for hunting in the dark depths of the ocean. They had long snouts filled with sharp teeth, quiet flippers that enabled stealth while hunting and huge eyes that helped them to see prey in the darkness. Fossil records suggest that their brains mirrored those of modern reptiles, which have large areas for processing movement, vision and scent, meaning they can spot other animals at a moment’s notice.

Ichthyosaur species varied in size, with the larger ones reaching up to a staggering 25 metres in length. That’s about the same length as Hope our blue whale in Hintze Hall!

Megalodon

No underwater thriller would be complete without the lurking presence of one of the ocean’s greatest hunters, sharks. Did you know that sharks originated more than 430 million years ago, with modern species dating back to the beginning of the Jurassic Period, around 200 million years ago.

The great white shark in the film Jaws terrified audiences for decades, but in recent years it’s the megalodon (MEG-a-low-don) that’s dominated popular culture. Star of the 2018 film The Meg these awe-inspiring hunters had massive jaws that opened up to 2.5 metres wide. Visitors to Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep will not only be able to size up a massive 5-million-year-old megalodon tooth they’ll also see the striking evidence of a megalodon attack on an ancient whale bone.

Plesiosaur

Inhabiting the oceans while the dinosaurs lived on land, long-necked plesiosaurs grew up to 12 metres long. While these creatures might look unrecognisable compared to modern marine animals, Pokémon enthusiasts might spot a few similarities with Lapras, a water/ice Pokémon that shares many of the same features.

Their distinctive body shape, with four flippers and a long neck, most likely enabled them to sneak up on prey. Surprisingly, this body plan hasn’t evolved again in any other animal since the Jurassic Period. Plesiosaurs had ridges on the surface of their teeth that allowed them to catch slippery fish, crack shells and pierce flesh easily.

One of the more successful predators of ancient oceans, plesiosaurs survived long after the end of the Jurassic Period. They eventually died out at the same time as the dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period 66 million years ago.

Teleosaurus

Those who grew up watching Disney’s Peter Pan will recall the telltale ticking of the clock inside the crocodile that stalks Captain Hook. But did you know that marine crocodile species like Teleosaurus (teh-lee-oh-SORE-us) actually date all the way back to the Jurassic?

These fearsome hunters evolved from land-dwelling lizards to hunt and live in the shallow Jurassic seas. Their long, teeth-lined snouts were perfect for catching fish and their tough, armoured plates protected their bodies from predators. In our exhibition Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep you can feel the hard, bony armour of a Teleosaurus. Can you imagine a creature with teeth and jaws strong enough to break through that skin?

Mosasaurs

Often called the T. rexes of the sea, the fierce predators the mosasaurs (MOH-sah-sores) ruled the Cretaceous oceans several million years after the Jurassic. A close cousin of modern-day snakes and lizards, these vicious reptiles can be spotted in the 2015 Jurassic World film.

These powerful swimmers used bursts of speed to ambush their prey and their double-jointed jaws opened wide enough to enable them to swallow fish and diving seabirds whole. Some evolved sharp teeth for clinging onto scaly fish while others had stronger teeth that could crush through the shells of ammonites. There were more than 30 different species of mosasaur roaming the Cretaceous seas, each perfectly adapted to hunt its prey.

Aerodactylus

We’ve seen lots of species that have inspired ferocious fictional beasts, but what about a real-life species that was named after a character? Come along to Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep and meet Aerodactylus, named after the purple Pokémon character Aerodactyl.

While not technically a marine reptile, this pterosaur would have lived close to the Jurassic seas, swooping down to the surface of the water to catch fish or flying insects. Other pterosaur species had teeth that pointed forwards, enabling them to catch slippery prey such as squid more easily. While Aerodactylus may not have actually been purple like it’s namesake, scientists do think pterosaurs existed in different colours.

So, there you have it! The monsters of the Jurassic oceans have inspired characters across films, books and TV. Be sure to visit Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep to come face-to-face with these impressive specimens and measure up against some of the most monstrous creatures that have ever lived!