The object in context
The 2016 dossier presents this nearly complete marine reptile as Hainosaurus bernardi, nicknamed Sea Rex. Found at Ciply in Hainaut, the mounted skeleton is described as 12.5 metres long with a 1.6-metre jaw. It is a mosasaur, not a dinosaur. The historical name is retained here; scientific classifications and museum labels can be revised as research develops.
Try this when you look
Follow the skeleton from jaw to limbs and tail. Compare the features that suggest movement through water with a terrestrial dinosaur mount, but do not use body size as a classification rule. Record which bones you can actually see and which parts of the reconstruction require a museum explanation.
Before you visit
The photograph shows a documented museum mount, not a claim about the current room layout. Check the Institute’s collection information before planning a visit around this specimen. A familiar nickname can help you remember it, but the scientific name and provenance make a more precise enquiry.
- The object in context: The 2016 dossier presents this nearly complete marine reptile as Hainosaurus bernardi, nicknamed Sea Rex.
- Try this when you look: Follow the skeleton from jaw to limbs and tail.
- Before you visit: The photograph shows a documented museum mount, not a claim about the current room layout.
