Haasiasaurus

Haasiasaurus was one of the oldest known mosasaurs, living during the Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous.12

Its name was originally Haasia, but that name was already used for a millipede, so scientists changed it to Haasiasaurus in 2003.13

Fossils of Haasiasaurus were found at Ein Yabrud, a site that also produced ancient snakes with small legs, like Pachyrhachis.2

It lived in warm, shallow seas with surface temperatures similar to today's tropical oceans, around 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.2

Haasiasaurus is named after paleontologist Georg Haas, who studied fossils from Israel.1

Some scientists think Haasiasaurus might be a chimera, meaning its skull and body bones may come from different animals.1

This small mosasaur is closely related to other early marine lizards like Dallasaurus and Russellosaurus.2