‘Size of a School Bus’: Fossil Find Near MSU May Be State’s Largest Mosasaur

STARKVILLE, Miss. (VDN) — A significant fossil discovery near Mississippi State University may represent the largest mosasaur ever found in the state, thanks to the work of two MSU doctoral researchers.

Jonathan Leard and Tim Palmer, both full-time professional geologists with the Mississippi Geological Survey, uncovered the fossil while working on a geologic survey near Starkville. The vertebra, identified as belonging to Mosasaurus hoffmannii, measures more than seven inches across and is the largest of its kind discovered in Mississippi.

The discovery was made during a project with James Starnes, director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s geological division, as the team mapped the region’s subsurface. After initially uncovering fossilized marine shells, the vertebra was spotted protruding from the mud.

“When we found the fossil, only the ball was exposed,” Leard said. “It alone was the size of a baseball. Our hearts were racing as we passed it around in disbelief at the size.”

Mosasaurus hoffmannii roamed Earth’s ancient seas about 66 million years ago and could grow over 30 feet long. The marine reptile, similar in shape to a crocodile but the size of a school bus, was a fierce predator built for speed, with paddle-like limbs and powerful jaws.

Palmer called the find a reminder of his passion for paleontology. “The mosasaur find is one of many examples that reminds me of the choice I made long ago to do what I love,” he said.

The fossil has been turned over to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, where it was confirmed to be M. hoffmannii. Mosasaurs thrived during the late Cretaceous period in what was then a warm, shallow sea covering much of Mississippi.

Both Leard and Palmer are pursuing doctoral degrees through MSU’s Department of Geosciences while continuing their full-time roles in the field.

MSU’s Dunn-Seiler Museum, located in Hilbun Hall, features a wide range of fossils and geologic exhibits and is open to the public. For more information, visit geosciences.msstate.edu/dunn-seiler-museum.