Once upon a time, the Midwest area was a shallow sea full of life. Swimming here wouldn’t be a good idea, though. The creatures in the sea were full of teeth! During the Cretaceous period, giant reptiles, sharks, and other giant aquatic creatures were the apex predators in the area. Here are some examples of the species that were discovered over the years. So scary!
- Xiphactinus
Haplochromis/WikiCommons
WikiCommons At 16ft in length, Xiphanicus was a large fish with an equally large mouth. It was found in Gove county near the Monument Rocks, where many fossil deposits are found. Could you imagine encountering one of these during a casual swim?
- Cretoxyrhina
WikiCommons Are you scared of great whites? Imagine that you discovered a shark 23 feet long swimming in your backyard. To be fair, there’s no longer a sea here but the fossils still remain scattered through the rock. Cretoxyrhina weren’t as large as the great Megalodon sharks, but they’re definitely up there!
- Plesiosaurs
Kim Alanis/WikiCommons
Julian Johnson/WikiCommons Plesiosaurs swam with paddle shaped fins, like dolphins or orcas. They had longer, sharper jaws perfect for hunting fish. (And anything else small enough to eat!)
4.Styxosaurus
Johnson Mortimer/WikiCommons A type of Plesiosaur, Styxosaurus was equally terrifying when it came to the ocean. It’s about 35-40 feet long. This creature was discovered in 1890 near Hell Creek in western Kansas. Can you imagine being the person to find something so large?
- Tylosaurus
WikiCommons
Levi Bernardo/WikiCommons
Julian Johnson/WikiCommons Tylosaurus, a type of Mosasaur, grew to the length of almost 50 feet. They breathed air, had double-hinged jaws and forked tongues. Definitely terrifying.
- Megacephalosaurus
MCDinosaurHunter/WikiCommons Megacephalosaurus sometimes grew as large as the Tylosaurus. This creature was discovered in Russel county, Kansas. It was later discovered to be a completely separate species than first thought. Don’t those rows of teeth remind you of a giant crocodile?
Have you ever found any fossils in Kansas? I bet they weren’t as large as these are. These prehistoric predators are enough to give me nightmares. Have you seen any of these in Kansas museums? If you’re interested in other Kansas history, check out these 11 Hidden Gems In Kansas That Hold Historic Keys To The Past.
Haplochromis/WikiCommons
WikiCommons
At 16ft in length, Xiphanicus was a large fish with an equally large mouth. It was found in Gove county near the Monument Rocks, where many fossil deposits are found. Could you imagine encountering one of these during a casual swim?
Are you scared of great whites? Imagine that you discovered a shark 23 feet long swimming in your backyard. To be fair, there’s no longer a sea here but the fossils still remain scattered through the rock. Cretoxyrhina weren’t as large as the great Megalodon sharks, but they’re definitely up there!
Kim Alanis/WikiCommons
Julian Johnson/WikiCommons
Plesiosaurs swam with paddle shaped fins, like dolphins or orcas. They had longer, sharper jaws perfect for hunting fish. (And anything else small enough to eat!)
Johnson Mortimer/WikiCommons
A type of Plesiosaur, Styxosaurus was equally terrifying when it came to the ocean. It’s about 35-40 feet long. This creature was discovered in 1890 near Hell Creek in western Kansas. Can you imagine being the person to find something so large?
Levi Bernardo/WikiCommons
Tylosaurus, a type of Mosasaur, grew to the length of almost 50 feet. They breathed air, had double-hinged jaws and forked tongues. Definitely terrifying.
MCDinosaurHunter/WikiCommons
Megacephalosaurus sometimes grew as large as the Tylosaurus. This creature was discovered in Russel county, Kansas. It was later discovered to be a completely separate species than first thought. Don’t those rows of teeth remind you of a giant crocodile?
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