News Summary
A significant fossil discovery has been made in Starkville, Mississippi, where geologist James Starnes uncovered a large mosasaur vertebra. This fossil, dating back to the late Cretaceous period, measures approximately seven inches wide, indicating the creature was likely over 30 feet long. This find is regarded as one of the largest mosasaur vertebrae documented in Mississippi and contributes to understanding marine life during the time of the dinosaurs.
Starkville, Mississippi – A remarkable discovery was made by geologist James Starnes from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality when he uncovered a large bone while checking a geological map south of Starkville on April 15. The bone has been identified as part of a giant marine lizard, known as a mosasaur, dating back to the late Cretaceous period.
The vertebra, measuring approximately seven inches wide at its largest point, indicates that the mosasaur was likely more than 30 feet long. This fossil, which Starnes described as the largest mosasaur vertebra he has ever encountered, has been sent to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science for further research and conservation. Although it may not be displayed to the public, its significance in understanding Marine life from that epoch is immense.
While mosasaur vertebrae are not uncommon in the region, according to George Phillips, the museum’s curator of paleontology, large specimens are considerably rarer. The discovery of this vertebra is recorded as potentially one of the largest Mosasaurus hoffmanni vertebrae documented in Mississippi’s history. In fact, it was located near the geological horizon that marks the extinction event of the dinosaurs, suggesting it represents a creature that lived during the last days of these terrestrial giants.
James Starnes, while initially thinking the bone belonged to a large land animal, was guided by his colleague Jonathan Leard to recognize its true marine origins. Mosasaurs, apex predators of their time, roamed the ocean and shared the Earth with dinosaurs such as theropods like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. The Cretaceous period, ending approximately 66 million years ago, was characterized by a warm, shallow sea that covered Mississippi, thriving with a variety of marine life that are now extinct.
Mosasaurus hoffmanni, one of the largest known species of mosasaurus, is theorized to have grown up to 50 feet long and weighed over 20,000 pounds. These formidable creatures possessed a snakelike body, limbs modified into paddles, a long downcurved tail, and large jaws filled with sharp, cone-shaped teeth, resembling those of modern monitor lizards.
This recent discovery is not the first in the Starkville area for Starnes; he previously found a smaller mosasaur specimen nearby in 2022. However, this latest find is of a much larger scale and has garnered significant interest within the geological and paleontological communities.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, along with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, emphasizes the importance of fossils, particularly seashells, in conducting geological surveys in Mississippi, which help in dating and understanding historical geological layers. This fossil find not only contributes to the scientific understanding of the late Cretaceous sea ecosystem but also serves as an encouragement for the community to engage in fossil hunting.
Residents in Starkville and the surrounding areas are encouraged to explore local geological sites for fossils, with resources available for identification through the MDEQ’s Ask a Geologist website. These efforts promote public interest in science and the study of natural history.
With a repository containing approximately 97,000 fossils, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science serves as a crucial resource for researchers worldwide. Such discoveries as the mosasaur vertebra continue to highlight the rich prehistoric history embedded within the geological fabric of Mississippi.
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Additional Resources
- The Dispatch: Giant Sea Dragon Fossil Found in Creek Near Starkville
- Wikipedia: Mosasaur
- Popular Mechanics: Discovery of a Giant Mosasaur in Mississippi
- Google Search: Mosasaur Fossils
- Live Science: Giant Sea Dragon Fossil Could Be Largest Mosasaur Ever Discovered in Mississippi
- Google Scholar: Mosasaur Fossils
- Indian Defence Review: Prehistoric Sea Dragon Fossil in Mississippi
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mosasaur
- Clarion Ledger: Alligators in Mississippi – 5 Facts to Know
- Google News: Mississippi Fossils
