Photo of Fossilized Remains of 80-Million-Year-Old Mosasaur Released

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama paleontologists recovered the fossilized remains of an 80-million-year-old water reptile, pictured above, from a Greene County site. This mosasaur, known as a Clidastes, was discovered in early June near the Tombigbee River and is one of the most complete dinosaur-age fossils ever recovered in the eastern U.S., said Dr. Ed Hooks, curator of vertebrate paleontology at UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History. Nicknamed Artemis, after the Greek mythological goddess of the hunt, this approximately 8-foot-long mosasaur will be meticulously cleaned and restored and placed on display in the UA museum. Mosasaurs were aggressive reptiles that lived near the end of the dinosaur age — from about 90 million to 65 million years ago. The Museum is accepting volunteers to work on various projects like this one. Training courses in paleontology are available to volunteers. For more information, telephone 205/348-2319.