Scientists have found the skull of an ocean-dwelling ancestor of the crocodile that lived approximately 135 million years ago. The beast had a massive skull containing large, serrated teeth and a tail like that of a fish. Researchers believe it was the top predator of its day and have given it the nickname 'Godzilla.'
Godzilla likely preyed on large reptiles and dinosaurs, unlike other ocean-based reptiles of the time which mostly ate small fish or mollusks. Godzilla's skull actually resembles that of a T-Rex, suggesting it went after very large prey. Scientists so far have found the skull and a partial skeleton but are hoping to find a complete specimen in the future.
'Godzilla wasn't nice at all, and was certainly the top ocean predator of his time,' explained Diego Pol of Ohio State University.
The creature died out approximately 65 million years ago during the mass extinction that marked the end of the age of dinosaurs.
The fossil was found by scientists from Argentina and the United States. They reported their findings on the Web site of the journal 'Science.'
'On the land, Godzilla's early ancestors were probably small, swift-running reptiles that subsisted on plants, or perhaps were omnivorous, and flourished more than 200 million years ago,' Pol explained.
Zulma Gasparini, a paleontologist at the National University of La Plata and the senior scientist involved in the project, says that the creature, which was eventually given the scientific name Dakosaurus andiniensis, was at least 12 feet long and had 52 jagged, saw-like teeth inside its mouth.
More information about Godzilla will be featured in the December issue of 'National Geographic.' The National Geographic Society funded part of the research.
