Mosasaurus in 3D - click the head, a flipper, or the tail for a fact (full controls on the Dinosaurs 3D hub).
Mosasaurus was a marine reptile, not a dinosaur - it swam rather than walked, so the model floats on a water plane with paddle-shaped flippers and a finned tail. Length estimates range roughly 11 to 17 m.
Colors are an artistic reconstruction (fossils don't preserve them). The measurements in the panel are the real published ones.
Mosasaurus 3D Viewer
Spin this Mosasaurus by dragging, zoom with scroll or pinch, and tap a body part to surface a fact about it (full control reference on the Dinosaurs 3D hub).
Mosasaurus was a giant marine reptile that lived in the Late Cretaceous, roughly 82 to 66 million years ago, and hunted in shallow seas rather than on land. Published length estimates range from about 11 to 17 m; it is often reconstructed near the upper end. It was not a dinosaur - it belonged to a group of ocean-going lizards - so the model shows a streamlined body, four paddle-like flippers, and a finned, propelling tail.
The first Mosasaurus fossils were found near Maastricht in the Netherlands in 1764, which is how the animal got its name (the "Meuse river lizard"). Its conical teeth suited gripping fish, ammonites, and other marine prey.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | about 11-17 m (range) |
| Weight | estimated up to about 10 tonnes |
| When it lived | 82-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous) |
| Group | Marine reptile (mosasaur), not a dinosaur |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Colors here are an artistic reconstruction - fossils don't preserve them; the numbers above are real published values, with a range given where sources disagree.
New to the controls? See how to view Mosasaurus in 3D. For the numbers beside a person, see Mosasaurus size comparison. For trade-offs versus phone AR apps, see Mosasaurus 3D viewer vs AR apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Mosasaurus a dinosaur?
No. Mosasaurus was a marine reptile - an ocean-going lizard - that lived at the same time as the last dinosaurs but is a separate group. This viewer includes it because it is one of the most-searched prehistoric animals.
How big was Mosasaurus?
Published length estimates range from about 11 to 17 m, with weight estimated up to roughly 10 tonnes. The viewer shows a range because sources disagree; turn on the human figure to judge the scale.
Is the model scientifically accurate?
The body shape follows fossil reconstructions - streamlined trunk, four flippers, a finned tail - but the skin color and texture are an artistic reconstruction. Fossils preserve bone, not color. The figures shown are real published values.
Where was Mosasaurus first found?
Near Maastricht in the Netherlands, in 1764. The name means roughly "Meuse river lizard" after the river near the discovery site.