'Godzilla' Fossils Reveal Real-Life Sea Monster

monster leaping from ocean
<< Previous   2 of 4   Next >>
The fossilized skull of a newfound species of ancient marine reptile, pictured above, measures about two and a half feet (one meter) long. The creature's large jaws and jagged teeth prompted researchers to nickname the animal Godzilla after the sci-fi legend that first emerged from the ocean to terrorize Japan in the 1954 cult classic Gojira.

"Other marine crocodiles that were around at the same time had very delicate features—long, skinny snouts and needle-like teeth for catching small fish and mollusks," Diego Pol said in a press statement. The Ohio State University researcher helped identify the predator as a member of the crocodile family.

More Photos in the News
Today's Top 15 Most Popular Stories
Free E-Mail Newsletter: "Focus on Photography"
Photograph courtesy Diego Pol/Ohio State University
 

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS




 

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample