Phosphorosaurus

Phosphorosaurus had eyes that pointed forward, giving it binocular vision and depth perception, which is rare among mosasaurs.1

It was a small mosasaur, only about 2.5 to 3.5 metres long, much smaller than giants like Mosasaurus.1

The name Phosphorosaurus means 'phosphate lizard' because its fossils were found in phosphate-rich rocks in Belgium.1

Two species are known: Phosphorosaurus ortliebi from Belgium and Phosphorosaurus ponpetelegans from Japan.1

The Japanese species P. ponpetelegans was discovered in a clean creek called Pankerusano-sawa, and its name means 'elegant creek lizard'.1

Phosphorosaurus lived during the Maastrichtian age, about 72 to 66 million years ago, just before the dinosaurs went extinct.13

It was an ambush predator, not a fast swimmer, so it likely hid and waited for prey to come close.1