Tentacles, Pointy Teeth and the T-Rex of the Sea: the Natural History Museum on Beasts that Once Ruled the Oceans

The Natural History Museum’s Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, invites audiences beneath the surface of the prehistoric seas that once covered much of the planet. Through fossils, casts, and immersive displays, the exhibition introduces the marine reptiles, ammonites, ancient sharks, and other species that shaped ocean ecosystems more than 66 million years ago. Highlights include a plesiosaur skeleton, ichthyosaur specimens, and the skull of a mosasaur, helping visitors understand how these animals lived, hunted, and adapted. The exhibition also connects deep time with the present, showing how past changes in climate and marine life can illuminate the pressures facing today’s oceans. By linking scientific discovery with public engagement, the show encourages visitors to consider both the richness of prehistoric marine worlds and the fragility of ocean ecosystems today. The Foundation’s support helps make this research-led exhibition accessible to broad audiences, advancing public understanding of natural history, evolution, and environmental change. Read the article here.