Kansas Killer-Platecarpus and Toxochelys

Below the swells of the 84 million year old Niobrara Sea in what is today Kansas, a marine lizard (Platecarpus) targets a sea turtle (Toxochelys). Skin impressions of the mosasaur show that it had a dorsal fin on its down-turned tail not unlike ichthyosaurs and that its diamond-shaped scales had pigmentation not unlike modern sharks. This sketch is based on a nice mount in the Houston Museum of Nature and Science. As always, thanks very much for looking.