Recent research on mosasaurs, extinct marine lizards, has shed new light on their evolution, feeding habits, and phylogenetic relationships, uncovering surprising behaviors like cannibalism. First discovered in 1766 in the Netherlands, mosasaurs significantly contributed to vertebrate paleontology. Palaeontologist Michael Polcyn’s recent work, which earned him a PhD from Utrecht University, involves advanced imaging technologies such as micro-CT scanning to investigate the internal structures of mosasaurs and clarify their evolutionary lineage. Notably, he found evidence of cannibalism in a specimen from Angola that contained the remains of three other mosasaurs. Mosasaurs, which transitioned to marine life about 100 million years ago, thrived in various marine environments until their extinction 66 million years ago. Polcyn’s research highlights the relationships among four major mosasaur groups and reveals their closest relatives are not snakes but are related to monitor lizards. Additionally, his large-scale examination of mosasaur feeding behaviors across their evolutionary timeline has provided insights into their foraging patterns and dietary diversity. Polcyn, now a Senior Research Fellow at Southern Methodist University, transitioned to paleontology from a career in technology and engineering after serving in the U.S. submarine service.
