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Description
There is not doubt that Mesozoic mosasaurs were among the most formidable marine predators of their time, and that legacy lives on in their Saurocene descendants. While some species have taken to alternative lifestyles, by and large they are still the dominate macropredators of the seas. One such genus that still carries the torch is Suchocarcharus, the "crocodile sharks", or Lunkers, as they are commonly called. Members of this group date back to at least the late Miocene, although the fragmentary Fiestasaurus from the the early Miocene may be a member; most scientists, however, regard this taxon as simply a stem-form of suchocarcharinae, the group to which all modern macropredatory neomosasaurs belong. More secure relatives of this taxon include the very large Megasuchocarcharus from Pliocene of Antarctica, the short-snouted Abruptosaurus from the late Miocene and early Pliocene, and the earliest form, Lacertasqualas, which unites Suchocarcharus with the more gracile Barracudasaura. Fossils attributable to the modern genus Suchocaracharus are known with certainty from the mid-Pliocene onward.

The 15 or so species of Lunkers range in size from 2.5 (S. furtis) to 12 meters (S. occidentalis and S. ripplii, at least) in length and may weigh up to 15 tonnes. They inhabit a variety of habitats, put are primarily fond of coastal waters in the temperate regions of the world. Some species are seasonal visitors to polar waters and one, S. icelandicus, may even spend the winter amidst the pack ice. Their lowest diversity is in the tropics, where they face increased competition from other marine predators. While members of this genus are not normally considered pelagic, they have occasionally been found far out at sea. Whether these represent accidental wanderings or some form of seasonal migration is still unknown. Their common name is derived from a popular term among fisherman to describe exceptionally large fish, especially sizable large-mouth bass. This is apt, as the members of this taxon hunt in a similar fashion to their fishy counterparts. They are ambush predators, capable of attacking with incredible speed and ferocity, but are otherwise sluggish, often spending much of their time motionless near the bottom. Also like bass, they are willing to sample anything that looks remotely edible, making them among the most dangerous Saurocene creatures to study. They have also been noted to become more active and aggressive upon nightfall; indeed, some of their daylight attacks are best regarded as "half-hearted" (such as with the depicted S. albanaris, mildly spooking some passing penguin relatives). Just about everything is on the menu, including fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, birds, other marine reptiles, carrion, pieces of wood, zodiacs, kayaks, boat fenders, and ROVs. Interestingly, intraspecific cannibalism has not been recorded. Large adults have no known predators, though large sharks, ornithocetids, and other mosasaurs are probable threats.

Breeding behavior is still undocumented in this taxon, but it is thought to be brief and violent, based on their solitary nature and the numerous intraspecific scars adults usually bear. Young number between 3 and 12, are no more than a meter in length at birth, and usually reside in well concealed habitats such as dense kelp forests or mangroves. Neonate coloration is accordingly quite cryptic, but can seem rather garish when examined up close. They are rather slow growing, with sexual maturity attained in about a decade in most species. Total lifespan is unknown, but is thought to exceed 60 years.

These mosasaurs have the distinction of being the first of their kind to be discovered in the Saurocene, with the species now known as S. australis being sighted via boat off the coast of Shark Bay Australia in 2215. Suchocarcharus are perhaps best known for their predatory interactions with people. Their have been five fatalities over the course of the 85 years of Saurocene research, and dozens of injuries. Three of the deaths were provoked while the other two are classified as unprovoked. In two of the provoked attacks, baiting was involved; in the other, an unrestrained animal aboard a boat lashed out with its tail, crushing a crew member against a wall. In one of the unprovoked attacks, a researcher was suddenly ripped off a zodiac after unfortunately dangling their leg over the side; death resulted from drowning. The other unprovoked attack was on a tourist wading in shallow water on an allegedly safe beach, this is the only case where the victim is known to have been consumed. Most of the non-fatal injuries attributed to this genus are the result of thrashing captured/beached animals or loss of balance when small boats were bumped from underneath. Understandably, most studies of these species are done via periscope or from the safety of cages. Temporarily corralled individuals seems to adjust to confinement well, quickly learning to recognize their keepers and accepting all manner of food. Only one individual is in captivity permanently, a large male S. occelatus nicknamed Bruce, who currently resides at the Saurocene Museum and Zoological Collection (SMZC) near Sydney, Australia. At 9 meters long, he's among the largest aquatic residents of the park and a firm crowd favorite.

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Saurocene Mosasaur Evolution

Introduction to the Saurocene

Description
There is not doubt that Mesozoic mosasaurs were among the most formidable marine predators of their time, and that legacy lives on in their Saurocene descendants. While some species have taken to alternative lifestyles, by and large they are still the dominate macropredators of the seas. One such genus that still carries the torch is Suchocarcharus, the "crocodile sharks", or Lunkers, as they are commonly called. Members of this group date back to at least the late Miocene, although the fragmentary Fiestasaurus from the the early Miocene may be a member; most scientists, however, regard this taxon as simply a stem-form of suchocarcharinae, the group to which all modern macropredatory neomosasaurs belong. More secure relatives of this taxon include the very large Megasuchocarcharus from Pliocene of Antarctica, the short-snouted Abruptosaurus from the late Miocene and early Pliocene, and the earliest form, Lacertasqualas, which unites Suchocarcharus with the more gracile Barracudasaura. Fossils attributable to the modern genus Suchocaracharus are known with certainty from the mid-Pliocene onward.

The 15 or so species of Lunkers range in size from 2.5 (S. furtis) to 12 meters (S. occidentalis and S. ripplii, at least) in length and may weigh up to 15 tonnes. They inhabit a variety of habitats, put are primarily fond of coastal waters in the temperate regions of the world. Some species are seasonal visitors to polar waters and one, S. icelandicus, may even spend the winter amidst the pack ice. Their lowest diversity is in the tropics, where they face increased competition from other marine predators. While members of this genus are not normally considered pelagic, they have occasionally been found far out at sea. Whether these represent accidental wanderings or some form of seasonal migration is still unknown. Their common name is derived from a popular term among fisherman to describe exceptionally large fish, especially sizable large-mouth bass. This is apt, as the members of this taxon hunt in a similar fashion to their fishy counterparts. They are ambush predators, capable of attacking with incredible speed and ferocity, but are otherwise sluggish, often spending much of their time motionless near the bottom. Also like bass, they are willing to sample anything that looks remotely edible, making them among the most dangerous Saurocene creatures to study. They have also been noted to become more active and aggressive upon nightfall; indeed, some of their daylight attacks are best regarded as "half-hearted" (such as with the depicted S. albanaris, mildly spooking some passing penguin relatives). Just about everything is on the menu, including fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, birds, other marine reptiles, carrion, pieces of wood, zodiacs, kayaks, boat fenders, and ROVs. Interestingly, intraspecific cannibalism has not been recorded. Large adults have no known predators, though large sharks, ornithocetids, and other mosasaurs are probable threats.

Breeding behavior is still undocumented in this taxon, but it is thought to be brief and violent, based on their solitary nature and the numerous intraspecific scars adults usually bear. Young number between 3 and 12, are no more than a meter in length at birth, and usually reside in well concealed habitats such as dense kelp forests or mangroves. Neonate coloration is accordingly quite cryptic, but can seem rather garish when examined up close. They are rather slow growing, with sexual maturity attained in about a decade in most species. Total lifespan is unknown, but is thought to exceed 60 years.

These mosasaurs have the distinction of being the first of their kind to be discovered in the Saurocene, with the species now known as S. australis being sighted via boat off the coast of Shark Bay Australia in 2215. Suchocarcharus are perhaps best known for their predatory interactions with people. Their have been five fatalities over the course of the 85 years of Saurocene research, and dozens of injuries. Three of the deaths were provoked while the other two are classified as unprovoked. In two of the provoked attacks, baiting was involved; in the other, an unrestrained animal aboard a boat lashed out with its tail, crushing a crew member against a wall. In one of the unprovoked attacks, a researcher was suddenly ripped off a zodiac after unfortunately dangling their leg over the side; death resulted from drowning. The other unprovoked attack was on a tourist wading in shallow water on an allegedly safe beach, this is the only case where the victim is known to have been consumed. Most of the non-fatal injuries attributed to this genus are the result of thrashing captured/beached animals or loss of balance when small boats were bumped from underneath. Understandably, most studies of these species are done via periscope or from the safety of cages. Temporarily corralled individuals seems to adjust to confinement well, quickly learning to recognize their keepers and accepting all manner of food. Only one individual is in captivity permanently, a large male S. occelatus nicknamed Bruce, who currently resides at the Saurocene Museum and Zoological Collection (SMZC) near Sydney, Australia. At 9 meters long, he's among the largest aquatic residents of the park and a firm crowd favorite.

..................................................................................................................................................................................

Saurocene Mosasaur Evolution

Introduction to the Saurocene