Northeastern Mexico — An international team of paleontologists from Mexico and England has identified a new species of mosasaur that patrolled ancient oceans approximately 70 million years ago.
The discovery, detailed in the scientific journal Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, reveals a formidable marine predator named Prognathodon cipactli. This creature inhabited a tropical sea that once covered much of what is now northern Mexico during the Late Cretaceous period.
Researchers say the mosasaur possessed a powerful jaw structure that allowed it to hunt large, hard-shelled prey, positioning it at the top of the food chain in its ecosystem. Its bone structure suggests a devastating bite force capable of crushing shells and bones with relative ease.
The species name incorporates “cipactli,” a reference to the primordial aquatic monster from Mexica (Aztec) mythology. Researcher Rivera-Sylva explained the choice aims to create a symbolic connection between the prehistoric ocean and indigenous creation legends.
Scientifically, mosasaurs share close kinship with modern lizards and monitor lizards, despite their massive size and aquatic lifestyle. During the final millions of years of the Cretaceous, these animals dominated global seas, playing an ecological role similar to modern orcas.
The discovery is particularly significant because Mexico’s fossil record for these reptiles has been limited compared to other regions worldwide.
This finding adds to other paleontological successes in Coahuila this year. Researchers from the Museo del Desierto recently presented Xenovenator espinosai, a velociraptor-family dinosaur that hunted in the General Cepeda area 74 million years ago. Both discoveries solidify northern Mexico as a rich window into the lost world of the Cretaceous.
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