News Paleontology

How an ancient marine predator snuck up on its prey

Serrations at the edges of Temnodontosaurus' fossilized flipper may have dampened the sound of swimming

An artist's drawing of the ancient marine predator Temnodontosaurus, showing the serrated edge of its flipper.

The ancient marine reptile Temnodontosaurus, shown here in an artist’s representation, had flippers with curious serrations on the trailing edge, which might have helped it sneak up on prey.

Joschua Knüppe

By Carolyn Gramling

A past predator of the seas may have had a secret weapon: noise-cancelling flippers that helped it sneak up on prey.