Goronyosaurus

Goronyosaurus, live reconstruction

• Africa ( Nigeria)

Goronyosaurus is a genus of mosasaur from the Late Cretaceous. It has been described a way Goronyosaurus nigeriensis. Its fossil remains have been found in the so-called " Mosasaur Shales " in the district Goronyo in the Nigerian state of Sokoto.

Features

Goronyosaurus could be seven feet long, with a skull length of 62 cm. Morphologically, it differs greatly from other mosasaurs and is more closely related to any other. His heavily built skull runs to the end not pointed to, but the rostrum is similar to a long cylinder. Skull and teeth had similarity with the crocodiles and have ten extended fangs, which attacked its mouth closed in a gap or hole in the opposite jaw. His jaws were relatively longer than the other mosasaurs, the jaw muscles were sitting far back and allowed a quick bit down. His eyes were small, but smell and touch to have been pronounced. An examination of the fangs showed that they were more suitable to cut meat to break than bones. He probably lived in habitats with turbid water, such as estuaries and fed on reptiles and other large fish.