Palaeontologists have excavated the 2-metre-long skull of a terrifying ancient marine carnivore known as a pliosaur from a cliff on the Jurassic coast of southern England, and one of the fossil hunters responsible for the recovery believes the rest of the creature can still be preserved deep in the rock.

Earth’s oceans have been home to countless terrifying predators throughout their long, tumultuous history, but few could come close to the power and size of the pliosaur, a species of aquatic reptile that dominated Earth’s oceans about 150 million years ago.

Propelled through the water by a powerful tail and four enormous paddle-shaped limbs, the apex predator featured powerful jaws that were capable of knocking down its prey with 33,000 newtons. For context, computer models put the bite force of a modern great white shark at about 18,000 newtons.

As the BBC reported, the skull of one of those enormous predators was recently excavated from a cliff overlooking England’s Jurassic coast, after fossil hunter Phil Jacobs stumbled upon the snout of the aquatic beast lying on the beach. Jacobs quickly sought the help of his friend and local paleontologist Steve Etches, who helped stretcher the fossil to safety. A drone study later identified the rest of the skull, which was found 15 meters above ground level embedded in the stony cliff.

“It’s one of the best fossils I’ve ever worked on. What makes it unique is that it’s complete,” Etches said in an interview with the BBC. “The lower jaw and upper skull are interlocked, as they would be in life. Worldwide, almost no specimens with that level of detail have been found, and if they are, many fragments are missing, while this, although slightly distorted: it has all the bones present.”

In the daring dig, archaeologists were suspended from ropes as they worked to free ancient bones from the surrounding rock. Fortunately, their careful work paid off and the skull has since been thoroughly cleaned to reveal countless features that provide insight into the carnivorous reptile’s hunting capabilities.

For example, paleobiologist professor at the University of Bristol, Emily Rayfield, was able to obtain information in the muscles that once articulated the vast skull by observing circular holes present in the back of the head, suggesting that Pliosaur clamped its jaws on its prey and writhed, like a crocodile. Small pits were also discovered in the pliosaur’s snout, which may have housed glands that evolved to detect changes in water pressure, and another opening was identified in the skull indicating the existence of a third eye.

“I’ll bet my life that the rest of the animal is there, and it should really come out because it’s in an environment that erodes very quickly,” Etches told the BBC. “This part of the cliff recedes a few meters a year. And it won’t be long before the rest of the pliosaur is gone and lost. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The skull will be the focus of the upcoming BBC special, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, airing at 20:00 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer. The skull will go on public display at the Etches Collection Jurassic Marine Life Museum in Dorset, England, later in 2024.

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years of experience covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and has absolutely no time for mischief. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer

Image credit: BBC Studios.