i-How: How Accurate is the Jurassic World Mosasaurus?
In Jurassic World, Mosasaurus is shown as an enormous, whale-sized marine reptile capable of attacking anything from sharks to boats. The reality is somewhat less fantastical; while Mosasaurus was a fearsome apex predator of ancient seas, its size has been exaggerated for cinematic effect. Scientific estimates put its maximum length at around 15 metres, not the colossal proportions seen on screen. Nonetheless, its role as a dominant marine hunter is rooted in fact, even if the film amplifies its scale. Dinosaurs
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How accurate is Jurassic World Mosasaurus?
The Mosasaurus featured in the Jurassic World and Jurassic World Rebirth films is an impressive sight, but how closely does it resemble the real-life marine reptile from the Cretaceous period?
Jurassic World Mosasaurus?
Size and body shape
Tail and propulsion
- Jurassic World: Uses its large flippers for propulsion, and the tail has a large, scaly fluke.
- Real life: Propulsion came from its tail fluke, which was a soft-tissue structure, and the flippers were used for stability.
Head and teeth
- Jurassic World: Features jagged, non-uniform teeth that are often exposed and a more "shrink-wrapped" appearance in later versions. It also has baleen whale-like throat grooves in the Rebirth version, which is inaccurate for a reptile.
- Real life: Had smooth teeth hidden by lips, similar to a monitor lizard. Its brain was also likely smaller and narrower.
Colour
- Jurassic World: Coloured in shades of blue and grey.
- Real life: Likely had a darker, counter shaded coloration (darker on top, lighter on the bottom).
Other differences
- Jurassic World: Exhibits acrobatic breaching behaviour.
- Real life: The full extent of its behavioural capabilities is not fully known, but its anatomy makes highly acrobatic breaches unlikely.
Jurassic World Mosasaurus (Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/dinosaurs.html)
Jurassic World Rebirth Mosasaurus (Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/dinosaurs.html)
Jurassic World Mosasaurus size comparison
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Left: Jurassic World Mosasaurus compared to an average-sized adult human
Right: Actual Mosasaurus size compared to an average-sized adult human
(Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/dinosaurs.html)
Modern-day Mosasaurus
Mosasaurus had a streamlined skull with many sharp teeth, perfect for catching its prey. Its midsection was barrel-like, and it had a long tail for powerful swimming. It also had two sets of fins, one set at the front and one at the back, to help it steer through the water.
Modern-day Mosasaurus (Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/dinosaurs.html)
Next: How accurate was Jurassic Park Pteranodon?
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