The Canadian Fossil Discovery Center (CFDC) announced on Thursday, Nov. 12, that its display of mosasaur fossils will be featured in the Guinness World Records' 60th anniversary edition.
The Manitoba-based center said its display of a 13-meter (42.7-foot) mosasaur named Bruce has been included in the famous record book's print edition for 2016. The dinosaur display is considered to be the longest publicly exhibited mosasaur in the world.
"It was an amazing honor," Peter Cantelon, executive director of the CFDC, said.
"Knowing that millions of people all over the world are going to read about us, Morden, Manitoba and Canada makes us incredibly proud."
The CFDC is home to the most extensive collection of marine reptile fossils in the country. It also houses the remains of ancient species of large fish, squid, turtles and birds.
A vial of woolly mammoth blood can also be found on public display at the Canadian museum.
The Canadian Fossil Discovery Center's main attraction, however, is its mosasaur exhibit, featuring what many view as the Tyrannosaurus Rex of prehistoric seas.
Mosasaurs such as Bruce were massive oxygen-breathing reptiles capable of growing up to 15 meters (around 49 feet) in length. They were able to propel themselves through the water by moving their tail repeatedly from side to side.
These ancient creatures also had two sets of sharp teeth as well as a large and powerful jaw that the reptile can dislocate at will to allow more food to pass through its mouth.
Every year, Guinness receives around 65,000 record submissions, but only 4,000 of them get to be included in the organization's print edition.
Approximately four million copies of the Guinness World Records book are published annually in more than 37 different languages.
Photo: Mike Beauregard | Flickr
