cabulus

Cabulus refers to a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the group known as mosasaurs. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, roughly 70 to 66 million years ago. Cabulus fossils have primarily been found in North America, particularly in what is now the Western Interior Seaway.

While not as well-known as some of the larger mosasaur genera, such as Mosasaurus or Tylosaurus, Cabulus possessed characteristics typical of its group. It was a marine lizard, adapted for life in the ocean with a streamlined body, powerful tail for propulsion, and paddle-like limbs. Its skull structure indicates it was a predatory animal, likely feeding on fish, ammonites, and other marine life.

The exact classification and evolutionary relationships of Cabulus within the mosasaur family tree are still subjects of ongoing scientific research. Understanding species like Cabulus helps paleontologists reconstruct the ancient marine ecosystems of the Cretaceous and trace the evolutionary history of these formidable predators. The limited fossil record for Cabulus means much about its specific diet, behavior, and ecological role remains to be discovered.