A SKULL of a prehistoric sea monster found in Dorset has been recognised by the Guinness World Records.

The Pliosaur skull that was made famous by the BBC documentary Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster has been given the title of the most complete Pliosaurus skull in the world.

Now on display in the Etches Collection at Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, the skull, affectionately known as the Sea Rex, has been calculated to be approximately 95 per cent complete by surface area.

It provides previously unobservable details of the macro-predatory pliosaurs and the Pliosaurus genus.

The skull’s snout was originally discovered by a friend of the museum, Philip Jacobs, almost two years ago.

It was excavated from the cliffs of Dorset in the summer of 2022 and is now on permanent display at the museum, around two miles from where it was discovered.

Weighing more than half a tonne, Sir David Attenborough presented a documentary on the efforts to excavate it.

The whole animal was the length of a London bus and is one of the biggest carnivorous creatures the world has ever seen.

It lived around 150 million years ago in the Jurassic period and its bite is thought to have been twice the force of a great white shark.

“This fossil has truly captured the public’s imagination since going on display at the museum," Dr Steve Etches MBE said. 

“So, receiving the news that we have been awarded a GWR title in recognition of the fact that it is the most complete skull of its kind ever found is a really nice accolade to share as part of the ongoing story.”

The world record is the latest chapter in the story of the skull.

There is set to be an excavation of the remaining body in the near future, with the museum trying to raise money to excavate it, which will be ‘one of the best opportunities’ for science to better understand this animal.

To donate to the crowdfunder, search Rescue the Sea Rex on JustGiving.