Fossils reveal that European waters were once terrorised by a freshwater lizard

A huge aquatic lizard has been discovered that terrorised European rivers 84 million years ago. The new species was discovered in Hungary is the first known example of a group of scaled reptiles to have lived in freshwater river environments. They were the biggest and most dangerous predators in the water and occupied a similar niche to freshwater dolphins of today. Researchers believe the largest of the ancient lizards grew up to 20 feet (6m) long, though most would have been 10-13 feet (3-4m). The new species was named Pannoniasaurus inexpectatus by the scientists who discovered it. Armed with rows of sharp teeth they would have siezed and eaten anything they could get into their mouths. It belonged to the mosasaur family which most fossil remains have show to be monstrous sea creatures. daily times monitor

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