| Predator X is the name given to a prehistoric marine | | | | some cases, Plesiosaurs and other Pliosaurs. |
| predator, the fossils of which have recently been | | | | The remarkable thing about Predator X is its |
| discovered in the Norwegian Arctic island of Svalbard. | | | | tremendous size. It is thought to have been about 50 |
| Although research is ongoing, scientists believe that | | | | feet (15 meters) long, and weighed around 45 tons. |
| this animal was a Pliosaur and lived in the oceans | | | | Its teeth were particular fearsome, and were each 1 |
| during the Mesozoic Era - the same period during | | | | foot (30 centimeters) long. Undoubtedly it was a |
| which the dinosaurs lived on land. | | | | powerful animal - and has been described as perhaps |
| Pliosaurs were marine reptiles. They had relatively | | | | being the most fearsome animal to ever have lived in |
| short powerful necks, heads filled with fearsome | | | | the oceans. We are not entirely sure exactly how |
| teeth, and a body with four-paddle like fins. They | | | | powerful Predator X would have been, but one |
| were related to Plesiosaurs, which were similar | | | | estimate is that its bite would have had ten times |
| animals but with much longer and thinner necks, and | | | | the force of animal modern animal, and perhaps four |
| small heads, although it is not entirely clear exactly | | | | times the force of the bite of a Tyrannosaurus rex - |
| how they were related. All Pliosaurs were predators, | | | | certainly not something that you would want to |
| and is thought that they would have eaten fish, | | | | encounter if swimming! |
| Ichthyosaurs (another type of marine reptile), and in | | | | |