centruma

Centruma is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the group known as mosasaurs. These formidable predators inhabited the oceans during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago. Fossil evidence suggests that centruma was a relatively large mosasaur, with some species estimated to have reached lengths of up to 10 meters. Their bodies were streamlined, adapted for powerful swimming, and they possessed a formidable set of jaws lined with sharp teeth, ideal for capturing prey.

The distribution of centruma fossils indicates a presence in various marine environments across the globe, suggesting they were widespread and successful predators in their time. Their diet likely consisted of fish, ammonites, and other marine reptiles. As with other mosasaurs, centruma would have been air-breathing reptiles, surfacing to inhale. The extinction of centruma, along with the rest of the non-avian dinosaurs and many other marine species, occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period, likely due to a catastrophic asteroid impact. Studying fossils of centruma helps paleontologists understand the diversity and evolution of marine life in the Mesozoic Era.