Tylosaurus proriger Ischium-Texas

Taxa: Tylosaurus proriger

Geology: Ozan formation

Age: Cretaceous-Campanian

Locality: Fannin County, Texas

Tylosaurus proriger

Tylosaurus proriger was a large, predatory marine reptile that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 85–80 million years ago. It belonged to the mosasaur family and was one of the top predators of its time. Tylosaurus proriger had a long, streamlined body, powerful flippers, and a distinctive elongated snout, which it may have used for ramming prey. It could grow over 12 meters (39 feet) in length and fed on fish, turtles, plesiosaurs, and even other mosasaurs. Fossils of T. proriger have been found in North America, particularly in the Western Interior Seaway, which once covered much of the central United States.

Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs were large, marine reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous period (about 100–66 million years ago). They were closely related to modern monitor lizards and snakes and belonged to the family Mosasauridae. Mosasaurs had elongated, streamlined bodies, powerful tails for swimming, and paddle-like limbs adapted for life in the ocean. They were apex predators, feeding on fish, ammonites, marine reptiles, and even other mosasaurs. Some genera, like Mosasaurus and Tylosaurus, reached lengths of over 12 meters (39 feet). Mosasaurs went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous during the mass extinction event that also wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.

 Ischium

The ischium of Tylosaurus proriger, a large marine reptile from the mosasaur family, is part of its pelvic girdle and plays a role in supporting its body and hind limbs. Unlike land-dwelling reptiles, the ischium in Tylosaurus was more adapted for its aquatic lifestyle. The bone is relatively flattened and robust, providing structural support for the pelvic region and aiding in the reptile's swimming abilities. Since Tylosaurus was a fully marine predator, its pelvic structure was not used for walking but for stabilizing the body during movement through water. The ischium of Tylosaurus would have been attached to muscles involved in thrusting and steering in the water, helping the animal maintain efficient swimming motion.