The world’s only example of a new species of pliosaur (Pliosaurus Carpenteri) will soon go on display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

The pliosaur dinosaur was the length of a bus and had sharp teeth the size of bananas, four huge flippers and crushingly powerful jaws, and was the ultimate predator of the Jurassic seas.

She may have even swam right where you’re standing!

Bristol was a very different place 150 million years ago. A warm tropical ocean covered the land, and while dinosaurs walked the earth and pterosaurs were flying the skies, marine reptiles dominated the seas.

The pliosaur was the biggest and fiercest of all – there is nothing alive like them today.

The pliosaur will go on public display for the first time in June at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery as part of the blockbuster family exhibition ‘Pliosaurus!’ sponsored by Clifton High School.

Alongside the fossil, visitors will come face to face with a full size replica of a living pliosaur. But like all unique museum beasts – she needs a name!

Can you help Bristol Museum & Art Gallery name the beast?

A shortlist of names has been gathered by the team at the museum ready for a public vote:

• Brizo (Greek goddess – protector of mariners, sailors and fishermen)
• Chompy
• Doris (a sea nymph from Greek mythology)
• Pip

Your children can vote for their favourite name until Sunday 12th March by visiting bristolmuseums.org.uk/namethebeast.