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Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Earth.com
Context: Scientists have discovered a new mosasaur, named Wakayama Soryu, in Japan that lived 72 million years ago.
- Dubbed the “blue dragon,” this marine predator, comparable in size to a great white shark, was found with unique features such as long rear flippers and a shark-like dorsal fin.
- Researchers believe these traits enhanced its agility and speed in the water.
- Classified as Megapterygius wakayamaensis, the mosasaur challenges existing ideas about marine reptile locomotion and offers insights into the diversity and evolution of mosasaurs.
- The naming as “blue dragon” reflects its cultural significance in Japanese folklore.
- Mosasaurs, apex predators of the late Cretaceous period, coexisted with dinosaurs and became extinct due to a mass extinction event caused by an asteroid impact.
The discovery sheds light on prehistoric marine life and adds to our understanding of Earth’s ancient oceans.
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