A fossil hunter from New Zealand has documented the moment he discovers and reveals a vertebrae bone from an 80-million-year-old rock.

Footage from December 26 shows the delicate reveal using specialised power tools that remove sections of the rock to show the bone structure from a pre-historic age.

Filmer and fossil enthusiast Mamlambo explained: "I found a section of bone still encased in rock, on a local beach and used an air scribe to remove the rock over about four hours.

"The bone was very fragile and I had to stop and consolidate it constantly before the bone flaked away.

"After prepping, I could see there was a section of rib showing and partial vertebrae.

"It is from a large Cretaceous marine reptile, probably a mosasaur.

"I could tell that there was a fossil in the rock by the bit of bone that was exposed but wasn't sure what it could be until I finished the prepping.

"I asked a few experts and a couple think it could be the caudal (tail) vertebra of a mosasaur! Mosasaurs were giant, apex predators and could have reached sizes of up to 17 meters (50 feet).

"The consolidant used is Paraloid B-72 which is a type of plastic that strengthens the fossil.

"The bone is around 80-million-years-old and the age is based on the geological formation it was found in."

I found a section of bone still encased in rock on a local beach and used an air scribe to remove the rock over about 4 hours. The bone was very fragile and I had to stop and consolidate it constantly before the bone flaked away. After prepping, I could see there was a section of rib showing and a partial vertebrae. It is from a large Cretaceous marine reptile, probably a mosasaur.

I could tell that the there was a fossil in the rock by the bit of bone that was exposed but wasn't sure what it could be until I finished the prepping. I asked a few experts and a couple think it could be the caudal (tail) vertebra of a mosasaur! Mosasaurs were giant, apex predators and could have reached sizes of up to 17 meters (50ft).

The consolidant used is paraloid B72 which is a type of plastic that strengthens the fossil.

The bone is around 80-million-years-old and the age is based on the geological formation it was found in.

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