150-Million-Year-Old Sea Monster’s Body Possibly Hidden Under British Cliffs
The fossil of a massive, 150-million-year-old pliosaur has been discovered in the cliffs of the UK. The pliosaur, nicknamed the “underwater T. Rex,” is estimated to be up to 39 feet long and could possibly be a new species.
By Richard Cole · December 11, 2023
A remarkable discovery has been made on the British coastline, where the body of an enormous 150-million-year-old sea monster, known as a pliosaur, may be concealed beneath the cliffs. The seven-foot-long head of this prehistoric creature, described as an “underwater T. Rex,” has already been unearthed, complete with a formidable set of 130 razor-sharp teeth. Paleontologist Steve Etches, the individual who made the initial discovery, is now hopeful that the remainder of the creature’s body could be nestled within the cliff where the skull was found, with estimates suggesting a total length of up to 39 feet.
It won't be very long before the rest of the pliosaur drops out and gets lost. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
The urgency of uncovering the rest of the pliosaur’s body is underscored by the rapid erosion of the coastline in the area, with the cliffs retreating at a rate of up to a foot per year. This relentless natural process poses a significant threat to the specimen’s integrity, potentially leading to the loss of vital information if the remains start falling from their 50-foot-high resting place.
Steve Etches, deeply committed to the excavation, expressed his conviction that the rest of the creature is still concealed within the cliff, warning, “It won’t be very long before the rest of the pliosaur drops out and gets lost. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The journey to this extraordinary find began when Etches stumbled upon the skull’s snout after his friend and fellow fossil enthusiast, Phil Jacobs, discovered it on a beach in Dorset, UK. Subsequent drone footage revealed the rest of the fossil protruding from the cliff above. After months of careful excavation, Etches successfully retrieved the skull from its lofty perch, identifying it as that of a pliosaur, a fearsome predator boasting a length of 30 to 39 feet and equipped with four fins for swift movement in the water.
Renowned specialists in the field have weighed in on this monumental discovery, with palaeobiologist Andre Rowe likening the pliosaur to an “underwater T. Rex,” emphasizing its ability to effectively prey on a wide array of marine creatures. Additionally, Judyth Sassoon, an expert on pliosaurs at the University of Bristol, has suggested that Etches’ specimen is very likely a new species, pointing to the skull’s crest as an indicator that the creature may not have reached full maturity at the time of its demise. Etches himself remains optimistic, believing that the vertebrae protruding from the back of the skull indicate the potential for the rest of the pliosaur’s body to remain intact, awaiting further discovery.
This groundbreaking discovery is set to captivate audiences worldwide, as it will be the focus of a new BBC documentary presented by the esteemed David Attenborough. Scheduled to premiere on the UK’s BBC One on New Year’s Day and on PBS on February 14, the documentary promises to shed light on this extraordinary find and the remarkable efforts of Steve Etches in uncovering the secrets of this ancient sea monster.