Kronosaurus

ocean · dinosaur era · predator · Australia

Giant ocean hunter. Kronosaurus was a huge pliosaur, a type of marine reptile with a stocky body, short neck, and powerful jaws that lived in Australian seas over 100 million years ago.

Named after a Titan. The name Kronosaurus means 'lizard of Kronos' after the powerful Titan from Greek mythology, chosen because this creature was so large and fearsome.

Found in pieces. The first Kronosaurus fossil arrived in 1899, but it was just part of the lower jaw. Scientists in the 1920s and 1930s found more complete skeletons in Australia that helped us understand what this creature looked like.

Australian discovery. All known Kronosaurus fossils come from Queensland, an Australian state where these marine reptiles swam and hunted in shallow seas called the Eromanga Sea.

Built for power. Unlike long-necked plesiosaurs, Kronosaurus had a short, thick neck and was built for speed and strength, making it a top predator in its ocean world.