Kansas boy discovers 15-foot marine reptile fossil from 85 million years ago during geology field trip

A Kansas lad searching for fossils during a geology nine tract travel stumbled onto thing acold bigger than expected: the remains of a 15-foot-long marine reptile that swam an past oversea 85 cardinal years ago.

Corbin Bullard was conscionable 11 years aged erstwhile helium spotted respective ample vertebrae protruding from stone astatine a quarry adjacent his hometown of Clearwater, Kansas, during a September 2025 outing with the Sedgwick County 4-H Geology Club.

"I didn't cognize what it was, but I knew that it was thing big," Bullard told FOX Local.

Over the people of 3 further excavation trips, Bullard and chap nine members cautiously uncovered astir an full tylosaurus, a monolithic marine reptile that ruled the seas during the Cretaceous Period.

DINOSAUR FOSSILS UNEARTHED DURING PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION AT NATIONAL PARK

Corbin Bullard discovered the fossil astatine a quarry adjacent his hometown of Clearwater, Kansas, successful September 2025. (Wendy Bullard)

The fossil measured much than 15 feet agelong and included everything from the animal's tremendous skull to astir of its skeleton.

Corbin and his geology nine uncovered a fossil of astir an full tylosaurus, a monolithic marine reptile from the Cretaceous Period. (Wendy Bullard)

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The past predator lived astir 82 cardinal to 87 cardinal years ago, according to researchers who dated the specimen to the Smoky Hill Chalk formation, a fossil-rich furniture of stone that stretches crossed parts of Kansas.

In this photo, portion of the tylosaurus fossil is seen. (Wendy Bullard)

The find emerged from a quarry wherever commercialized crews routinely shave distant layers of rock, exposing relics hidden for millions of years. Before Bullard's find, nine members had mostly uncovered shark teeth and food fossils.

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Now 12 and preparing to participate seventh grade, Bullard plans to show the fossil's skull astatine the Sedgwick County Fair successful July.

"I anticipation [the judges] accidental that it looks truly bully and that we enactment a batch of effort into it," helium said.