Tylosaurus in 3D - click the snout, a flipper, or the tail for a fact (full controls on the Dinosaurs 3D hub).
Tylosaurus was a marine reptile, not a dinosaur - it swam in the Western Interior Seaway with paddle-shaped flippers and a finned tail. Adult length is often cited near 8-14 m; some large specimens are estimated around 12-13.2 m.
Colors are an artistic reconstruction (fossils don't preserve them). The measurements in the panel are the real published ones.
Tylosaurus 3D Viewer
Below, a Tylosaurus you can drag to turn, zoom closer, and click the snout, a flipper, or the tail for a fact about that part (the Dinosaurs 3D hub lists every control).
Tylosaurus was a Late Cretaceous mosasaur, about 90 to 66 million years ago, from the North American Western Interior Seaway - not a dinosaur. Large adults are often cited near 8-14 m (some specimens near 12-13.2 m); mass estimates span about 1.1 tonnes to several tonnes. It is distinct from Mosasaurus, the European form often reconstructed longer near 11-17 m.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | about 8-14 m for large adults (some specimens near 12-13.2 m) |
| Body depth | about 2 m for a large adult (proportionate estimate) |
| Weight | about 1.1 tonnes to several tonnes (range) |
| When it lived | about 90-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous) |
| Group | Marine reptile (mosasaur), not a dinosaur |
| Diet | Carnivore |
No app and no login needed - WebGL renders the model locally, and the visit is never sent to a server.
See also Mosasaurus, a fellow mosasaur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Tylosaurus a dinosaur?
No. Tylosaurus was a mosasaur - an ocean-going lizard - that lived in the Late Cretaceous seas. This viewer includes it because it is a popular prehistoric marine predator, not because it was a dinosaur.
How big was Tylosaurus?
Large adults are often cited near 8-14 m, with some specimens estimated around 12-13.2 m. Mass estimates range from about 1.1 tonnes for mid-size adults to several tonnes for the largest forms. Turn on the human figure to judge the scale.
How is Tylosaurus different from Mosasaurus?
Tylosaurus is best known from the North American Western Interior Seaway and has a long toothless tip to the snout. Mosasaurus is the European Maastricht form often reconstructed longer near 11-17 m. Both were mosasaurs, not dinosaurs.
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 with ranges where sources disagree.
When and where did Tylosaurus live?
About 90-66 million years ago in Late Cretaceous seas, especially the Western Interior Seaway that covered much of what is now the central United States and Canada.