Cretaceous
Mosasaurus
Mosasaurus hoffmanni
The catalogue presents Mosasaurus as a carnivore member of Mosasauridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 82.0–66.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 12.0–18.0 m in length and 5.0–15.0 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Maastricht Formation, Netherlands. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Mosasaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Parkinson (1822).
The PBDB places it in Mosasaurinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Mosasauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Mosasauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Cenomanian to the Danian.
The PBDB catalogues 23 occurrences, with material from the Maastricht Formation (3), from the Opoka Formation (2) and from the Davutlar Formation (1). Provenance: Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, United States, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and Denmark.
The catalogue records the holotype as MNHN AC 9648 and the type locality as “Maastricht Formation, Netherlands”.
- MNHN AC 9648
- Maastricht Formation, Netherlands
The catalogue's reference measurements are 12.0–18.0 m in length and 5.0–15.0 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 12.0-18.0 m
- 5.0-15.0 tons
The record gathers 76 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 12.0–18.0 m
- Weight
- 5.0–15.0 t
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 82.0–66.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1764
- Described by
- Martinus van Marum
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Mosasauridae
- Genus
- Mosasaurus
- Species
- M. hoffmanni
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- MNHN AC 9648
- Type locality
- Maastricht Formation, Netherlands