The blue dragon, a new mosasaur found in Japan, is approximately the size of a great white shark and has been around for 72 million years. The dragon is called the blue dragon.
The Wakayama Soryu is located in the Wakayama Prefecture along the Aridagawa River. Konishi says that it was nearly the entire specimen, which was astounding. The Wakayama Soryu had extra-long rear flippers and a shark-like fin, features that likely enhanced its agility and speed in the water. He said that the rear flippers are longer than the front ones.
The mosasaur has a large flipper, which makes it the scientific name Megapterygius wakayamaensis.
Konishi theorizes that we don't have any modern analogs that have four large flippers and a tail fin.
The Wakayama Soryu, which was an apex predator in the ocean from 100 million to 66 million years ago, had a unique swimming technique. The mass extinction event caused by an asteroid impact in the Gulf of Mexico wiped out the dinosaurs.
The naming of the mosasaur as "blue dragon" is related to Japanese folklore where dragons are significant mythical creatures. The discovery of the Wakayama Soryu opens new pathways in understanding the diversity and evolution of mosasaurs. It opens a whole can of worms that challenges our understanding of how mosasaurs swim.
mosasaurs, the dominant marine predator of the late Cretaceous period, ruled the ancient seas with their massive size and ability to adapt. These giant reptiles are often compared to modern-day whales and sharks in terms of their ecological role.
The evolutionary journey of mosasaurs from land to sea is significant. The skull of a mosasaur was robust, with strong jaws and sharp, conical teeth, perfect for gripping and tearing flesh. Their dental structure varied across species, some adapted for crushing shells and others for slicing through softer prey.
Mosasaurs were present in a wide range of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to the open ocean. mosasaurs used their speed and agility to ambush their prey, feeding on fish, mollusks, birds, and smaller marine reptiles.
mosasaurs gave birth to live young, which allowed them to avoid the vulnerability of laying eggs on land. mosasaurs might have exhibited pack-hunting behaviors similar to dolphins and sharks, according to some evidence, while not much is known about their social behavior.
The mass extinction event happened at the end of the Cretaceous period about 66 million years ago. The extinction of mosasaurs was likely caused by a massive asteroid impact, which led to significant changes in Earth's climate. Their fossils give insight into the evolution of lizards and the dynamics of the marine environment. Their evolution, adaptation, and eventual extinction offer a compelling glimpse into the past, reminding us of the ever changing nature of life on our planet.
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