Tylosaurus (Safari)

Tylosaurus was one of the ocean’s most fearsome hunters. With a sleek, streamlined body and a powerful tail, this massive marine lizard glided through the Western Interior Seaway of North America some 75–85 million years ago. At an enormous 46 feet long—about the size of a humpback whale—it was among the largest mosasaurs of the Late Cretaceous.

The first remains of Tylosaurus were unearthed in the 1860s, shortly after the Civil War. Initially described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1869 as Macrosaurus proriger, it wasn’t until 1872 that rival paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh gave the creature its lasting name, Tylosaurus, meaning “knob (or snout) lizard.” This refers to its elongated muzzle, which extended past its upper teeth and gave it a unique profile.

Scientific Name: Tylosaurus proriger

The predatory Tylosaurus had a long, hydrodynamic body and a massive skull lined with conical teeth—some the size of a human fist in the largest specimens. Additional rows of teeth lined the roof of its mouth, ensuring prey had little chance of escape. Its flipper-like limbs and tail, likely tipped with a fin, made it a swift and deadly swimmer. This Safari Ltd model even captures the extra throat teeth if you peek inside!

This detailed Tylosaurus toy measures 9.25 inches long and 1.5 inches high.

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