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Today is National Fossil Day!!

The National Park Service and the American Geological Institute are partnering to host the third annual National Fossil Day on October 17, 2012 during Earth Science Week. National Fossil Day is a celebration organized to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value.

In celebration I bring you this fossil news: an ancient marine reptile, previously known as Predator X (which sounds like a terrible sequel) has been officially classified as a new species. Now known as Pliosaurus funkei (which makes me think of this), the fossil was initially discovered six years ago.

"They were the top predators of the sea," said study co-author Patrick Druckenmiller, a paleontologist at the University of Alaska Museum. "They had teeth that would have made a T. rex whimper."
Learn more and see artists' renderings here and here... I'm gonna have nightmares.