Scientists have described a newly discovered prehistoric reptile as “nightmarish” due to its “dagger-like” teeth.

Researchers have named the giant sea lizard – which hunted in the oceans 66 million years ago – “Khinjaria acuta”. The species was believed to get up to eight metres long, comparable to the size of an orca.

Dr Nick Longrich from the University of Bath, the lead scientist behind the study, spoke with an international publication on Wednesday, 6 March, and explained why they had chosen that particular name.

“The word khinjar being an Arabic word for ‘dagger’, and acuta being Latin for ‘sharp’, so literally, ‘sharp dagger’ or ‘sharp knife’”, he said.

According to reports, the fossilised remains were found in Morocco, deep within the Sidi Chennane phosphate mines. The unusual shape of the reptile’s skull and strong jaw prompted Longrich to call it “positively demonic”, before he went on to joke: “[it] may well take first in the ugly contest”.

As a result of its unique stature, the researchers who discovered the remains believe that the creature may have been one of the top predators that inhabited the Atlantic Ocean during the Late Cretaceous period.

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