Technically speaking, this marine reptile wasn’t a dinosaur, although it sure swam the Earth alongside many of them.
Styxosaurus lived 70 to 85 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous Period, long before humans set foot on the planet. And this monstrosity measured 10 m (35 ft) in length.
Scientists have found fossils of this ancient behemoth in what is now Kansas and South Dakota. So if Styxosaurus were alive today, it would mainly inhabit the coasts of North America.
But it’s unlikely you’d see this beast in its full size. All you’d be able to spot is its head and a good chunk of its long neck protruding from the water. That’s because Styxosaurus would bury its large turtle-like body in the murkiest and darkest waters, making it appear much smaller than it actually is.
This would reduce the chances of it being detected. And it would make it seem less intimidating to the fish and squid it’ll later munch on.
This feasting would be pulled straight from a horror movie. As Styxosaurus shut its mouth around its prey, sharp teeth would intermesh with each other and fully trap the animal inside. Like a cage from which there’s no escaping.
While the teeth of the Styxosaurus evolved for seizing slippery prey, they weren’t particularly effective at cutting through flesh. So this behemoth would swallow its still-living prey whole. The stones in its belly would take care of crushing bones and rubbing off scales.
Well, the head of the average Styxosaurus would be around 50 cm (1.6 ft) long, with a snout of about 30 cm (1 ft) in length.
That means that, if you happen to be an average-sized adult, this sea reptile wouldn’t want to try swallowing you whole. You wouldn’t fit in its mouth.
Now, if Styxosaurus could swallow you whole, you’d experience a sudden, inescapable darkness as you slide down a long neck and land in a stone pit. And that’s where you’d be finally pummelled to death. With rocks. What a bizarre way to go. Good thing this behemoth wouldn’t be big enough to swallow you in one piece.
On top of being hunted by ancient sharks, it seems like the Styxosaurus also wasn’t immune to the temperature changes in the ocean that were brought on by the changing climate.
But here’s a twist. It is actually how cold the oceans currently are that might give the Styxosaurus trouble. During the Cretaceous Period, the planet’s oceans had an average temperature of 37 °C (99 °F). The Styxosaurus will have a real hard time withstanding the cooler waters that can be found off North American coasts today. Unless it had adapted through evolution, not even warmer tropical waters would be able to provide it sufficient heat.
If the Styxosaurus was around today, it might not pose the greatest of threats to us ocean-loving humans. If anything, the risk to this behemoth’s survival would go beyond killer whales and sharks. You can bet our more avant-garde foodies would also be dying to give Styxosaurus a taste.
Seeing as it is a reptile, odds are it would have the sweet and juicy flavor of an iguana, with the fish-like texture of its favorite marine life. Putting aside the risk of parasites, viruses and Salmonella that comes from eating reptiles, it actually sounds delicious. (Peter – curious)
