A ferocious marine reptile with gnarly teeth for crushing prey was discovered in Colombia - CNN

Sáchica is a town near Villa de Leyva, where the partial skull was found.

Understanding marine ecosystems in transition

The research holds a special place in Cortés' heart because the specimen was found where she grew up, she said.

"My PhD research has direct implications for paleontological development in Colombia and the Neotropics, a field that is still emerging compared to the history of developed countries, so it's so rewarding to get to do research here too," Cortés said via email.

After this discovery, Cortés said she's turning her attention to analyzing fossils in the Centro de Investigaciones Paleontológicas of Villa de Leyva, Colombia.

"We're discovering many new species there that are helping us understand the evolution of marine ecosystems during a transitional time," Cortés said.