Cretaceous Sea
Location: Upper Level
One of the most feared creatures in the cretaceous sea was the Tylosaurus.
During the age of the dinosaurs 82 million years ago, Nebraska was covered with a great inland sea. One of the most feared creatures in that sea was the Tylosaurus, the largest mosasaur and dominant predator in the sea during the cretaceous period.
The Tylosaurus exhibit at Hastings Museum features a 30-ft. life-sized sculpture of a Tylosaurus, as well as a replica of the lizard-like creature’s skull.
This fascinating permanent exhibit shows what life was like in Nebraska at the time of the dinosaurs. It is the first exhibit of its kind in the central United States and was supported by the Hastings Museum Foundation’s capital campaign.
A replica of a Tylosaurus skull is available for Museum visitors to examine up close.
The exhibit fills the upper portion of the large lightwell in the center of the Museum, focusing on the third floor – but is visible from below. To recreate a portion of the great inland sea, specially-designed ceiling and wall panels surround the Tylosaurus, with unique lights creating an underwater glow.
Educational panels about the time period and the creature surround the exhibit and help explain the Tylosaurus’ dominance in the cretaceous sea and how it could swiftly move through the water in search of prey.
The sculpture was created by award-winning paleo-artist Gary Staab, who was raised in Grand Island, Neb., and graduated from Hastings College.
The sculpture is a full-scale model of what a Tylosaurus may have looked like in real life, drawn from Staab’s extensive knowledge of paleontology and his consultations with working scientists. For Hastings Museum, Staab created a Tylosaurus proriger twisting and turning as if preparing to attack its prey.
