Colossal sea monster unearthed in UK - BBC News

The skull of a colossal sea monster has been extracted from the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, UK.

It belongs to a pliosaur, a ferocious marine reptile that terrorised the oceans about 150 million years ago.

The 2m-long fossil is one of the most complete specimens of its type ever discovered and is giving new insights into this ancient predator.

The skull will be featured in a special David Attenborough programme on BBC One on New Year's Day.

#Palaeontology #SeaCreatures #BBCNews

[abdiver]

My God, I'm a fisherman in California and I've just realized that I sold a huge squid beak to Steve Etches several years ago! He contacted me one day through my online ad saying he wanted one for his museum. I had totally forgotten his name until I saw this report. So honored to have one of my specimens on display in his collection to be viewed by (hopefully) many generations to come.

[ignis]

It's both amazing and terrifying to think about the creatures that once roamed our land, sea, and sky. The idea still gives me shivers.

[Tigerfan]

Wonderful to see Sir David Attenborough still active! Bless you!

[tigerclaw]

Seeing the upward facing side teeth really places this Sea Monster in the terrifying category. Nothing would escape from that ripsaw.

[Tboe]

Thats looks like what a "Dragon"skull would look like. Thats awesome

[robwalsh]

Pliosaurs were simply some of the most terrifying animals to ever live. Real sea dragons.
Encountering one in open water must have been an experience equal parts terrifying, final.

[MeezMiah]

David Attenborough is one of the few people on the planet that can show up instantly to anything and always be welcomed by everyone

[ladybluegrass]

This must be where the legend of the dragon started, I imagine people finding the fossils a few hundred years ago and not really knowing what they were.

[lord_straxus]

David Attenborough almost 100 and still doing his thing. The man is a legend.

[GameOvera]

If this was how terrifying life looked like millions of years ago on earth, Imagine whats out there in the universe in different shapes and forms. Absolutely fascinating

[lise]

Beside the big fossil, let's not forget to admire the smaller one, the amazing 97 year old Sir David, still standing tall, rocking the boat telling us about it😮!.

[cindyclay]

Wow! Congrats on this incredible find! Thank you for this tantalizing peek at an impressive find! We look forward to the rest of this top predator.

[richardlee]

Paleontologists dream find, I don't think this short story can adequately cover the magnitude of how incredible this discovery was and how serious Steve Etches is when he says he could spend the rest of his life with this fossil

[khrawkupar]

Glad to see Sir David Attenborough healthy and still contributing to the world of documentaries.. I was some how emotional seeing him in this video🙏

[mpista]

Early sailors may have found things like this and imagined sea monsters were still alive in the oceans. Thiis is amazing !!

[allthingslexi]

For a fossil preserved in the Earth for that long, it sure does look amazing !

[thorium]

Wow, really amazing how well the skull is preserved! The teeth look amazing, I hope they find the whole fossilized pliosaur.

[snappercharters]

Was great to be a part of this project! Hosting Sir David Attenborough on our boat, Snapper Charters was a real career highlight!

[dnadnadna-dnnb]

i saw the thumbnail and watching the video getting upclose shots i instantly went"dang it the skull's squished and warped"

[stephanieyee]

I am in awe of this find. Having spent a few hours wandering along beaches on the Jurassic Coast I can imagine how excited the man who discovered this must have been.
Fantastic find and a beautiful specimen.