A South Dakota School of Mines paleontologist has made a big fossil find.
James Martin in September uncovered the 80-million-year-old remains of a mosasaur (MOH’-zuh-sohr) along the Missouri River near Chamberlain.
The giant marine lizard was known as the terror of the sea. Martin tells KEVN-TV that this is one of the best-preserved mosasaurs he’s ever seen. He says it was covered quickly after it died, and all the parts are where they’re supposed to be.
The fossil will be displayed at the school’s new Paleontology Research Laboratory within a week.