Dglukosi

Dglukosi is an extinct genus of mosasaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 66 million years ago. Fossils attributed to the genus have been found in marine sedimentary deposits in the southern region of Tanzania, Africa. The name Dglukosi, derived from local Bantu words meaning “shimmering water,” was formally described in 2023 by a team of paleontologists from the University of Dar es Salaam and the Natural History Museum of London.

The holotype specimen, catalogued as NHM LU 2023-5, consists of a nearly complete skull, partial postcranial skeleton, and several vertebrae. Dglukosi is distinguished by a highly elongated rostrum, fused mandibular symphysis, and a distinctive series of dermal osteoderms covering its dorsal surface. Its vertebral column shows an unusual combination of elongated neural spines and robust centrum, suggesting a semi-erect posture uncommon among contemporary mosasaurs. The genus is assigned to the Mosasauridae family, closely related to the genera Prognathodon and Tylosaurus.

The discovery of Dglukosi provides new insight into the biogeographic distribution of mosasaurs in the Afro‑Arabian region. The associated sedimentary context indicates a shallow, warm marine environment with abundant coral reefs, supporting a diverse ecosystem of predators and prey. Comparative analysis of Dglukosi’s limb morphology suggests it may have been adapted for both rapid swimming and maneuverability in complex reef settings. This genus thus contributes to a better understanding of the evolutionary ecology of marine reptiles during the Late Cretaceous.