Name: Khinjaria acuta.

Approximately between 67 million and 69 million years of age.

Appearance: Demon-faced and dagger-toothed.

I sense that a new type of dinosaur has been discovered. Yes, it’s actually a mosasaur, a sea-dwelling species. Fossils found in the Sidi Chennane phosphate mines in Morocco have been identified as belonging to a previously unknown species. Welcome, Khinjaria acuta, to the year 2024.

What makes it unique? It’s frightening, like a nightmare, and extremely unattractive.

“That appears to be quite severe. I have reliable information from an expert. According to an article published in the scientific journal Cretaceous Research, researchers led by Nick Longrich from the University of Bath described Khinjaria acuta as “nightmarish” due to its large size, strong jaws, skull mobility, and sharp blade-like teeth, indicating that it was an apex predator capable of consuming large prey. They also noted that its lower jaws were capable of expanding to accommodate huge meals. The creature was estimated to be approximately eight meters in length, making it significantly larger than even the largest great white shark.”

The description of khinjaria in the journal article is quite alarming and strange. Longrich even went as far as to say it was grotesque, with a peculiar skull structure. On his blog, he referred to it as an incredibly unusual and unsettling creature with a terrifying appearance. He also claimed that it could potentially win a competition for being the ugliest animal.

Brutal. Did a khinjaria hurt him? It probably would have if he had been around 67m to 69m years ago. Khinjaria’s big teeth, jaws “specialised to produce a large bite force” and short face made for a particularly powerful chomp; it almost certainly fed on large prey, Longrich says.

I find it rather rude to disregard an entity capable of devouring us like we are mere prawns by calling it “ugly”. This is not the first prehistoric creature to be labeled as such. Take a look at the suzhousaurus, resembling a hybrid of a massive rat and a vulture with an exceptionally long neck.

Oh yes, that’s hideous. Then there is the matheronodon, which had outsized scissor-like teeth and, if reconstructions are anything to go by, a gormless expression. And the deinocheirus – part duck, part camel with weird frilly cuffs.

Sure, khinjaria has the advantage of being scary. However, such a formidable predator deserves a more catchy (get it?) name; it doesn’t quite hold the same fear factor as Tyrannosaurus rex, does it? As it turns out, Khinjaria acuta is derived from the Arabic word “khinjar” meaning “dagger”, while “acuta” is the Latin word for “sharp”.

Is it really named “sharp dagger”? Affirmative.

OK, that is badass. Yes, although not as good as Longrich’s “really, really metal” initial suggestion: Shaytania pandaemonium (devil from hell, basically).

One should say: “Perception of beauty is subjective.”

Avoid using: “Unfortunately, the observer is within Khinjaria acuta’s ‘strong bite’.”

Source: theguardian.com