Palaeontologists digging on a desolate Arctic island have uncovered the first complete skeleton of one of the great dinosaurs of the deep.

The remains of a giant pliosaurus, a short-necked, voracious member of the plesiosaur family, were discovered during an expedition to the Svalbard Islands by researchers from the University of Oslo’s Natural History Museum in August. They nicknamed it "The Monster".

Announcing their find today — one of 28 marine reptiles dug up in just two weeks this summer — Dr Jørn Hurum and Hans Arne Nakrem wrote: "Think of an animal as long as a bus with teeth larger then cucumbers. Now think that those teeth are contained in a head that could swallow an adult human whole."

The pliosaurus, pictured in full, murderous swing above, has been dubbed the Tyrannosaurus rex of the sea because of its massive, teeth-filled head and killing capabilities. It belonged to a larger family of marine reptiles known as plesiosaurs that existed between 210 and 65 million years ago.

While many plesiosaurs had small heads on the end of long necks, and have been compared to supposed sightings of the Loch Ness monster, their short-necked cousin, the pliosaurus, used its 2-metre-long (6.5ft) head and powerful flippers to lead a more predatory existence.

Dr Hurum's team found the partially-fossilised skeleton, which is estimated to measure at least 10m (33ft) in length, poking out of a steep hillside. Like the other reptile remains found on the islands, which are 800 miles (1,300km) from the North Pole, it is believed to have laid undisturbed since its death around 150 million years ago.

As well as being one of the largest pliosauruses ever found, the researchers believe it is the first complete skeleton ever recovered. "We are quite sure it is complete," said Dr Hurum. "We have the head, and can see about 6m (20ft) of vertebrae before it disappears into the ground."

The team plan to return to the Svalbard Islands next year to continue their research. Of the 27 other fossils found, 21 were long-necked plesiosaurs and six were smaller ichthyosaurs, sea-going carnivores, mostly around 4-6m (13-20ft) in length that resembled modern dolphins but acted more like sharks: using a vertical fin to steer.

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