Attenborosaurus
Name:
Attenborosaurus
(Attenborough’s lizard).
Phonetic: At-ten-bo-ro-sore-us.
Named By: Robert T. Bakker - 1993.
Synonyms: Plesiosaurus conybeari.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria, Plesiosauroidea, Plesiosauridae.
Species: A. conybeari (type).
Diet: Piscivore.
Size: Roughly about 4.3 meters long.
Known locations: England, Dorset.
Time period: Early Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Single specimen of partial
remains now only represented by a plaster cast of the original
fossils. Skin impressions were also known with the original material.
The
discovery of Attenborosaurus was unorthodox to say
the least. When
first discovered the remains were referred to the Plesiosaurus
genus as
a new species, P. conybeari. These remains
were destroyed during
a bombing raid in World War II, but a plaster cast of them was made
before this happened which has meant all but the original skin
impressions can still be studied. This plaster cast was enough to
bring the realisation that while similar to Plesiosaurus,
the remains
are different enough to warrant the creation of a new genus;
Attenborosaurus.
As
you may have already gathered from its association with Plesiosaurus,
Attenborosaurus had the small head, long neck,
round body with
four flippers that are associated with all plesiosaurs. As
Attenborosaurus approached shoals of fish it could
use its long neck to
reach in and snap up a fish, the sharp teeth in the mouth granting
Attenborosaurus a secure grip upon its prey. The
skin impressions
with the original fossils are noted as being a smooth membrane that was
devoid of any noticeably large scales. This smooth skin probably
helped to streamline Attenborosaurus as it swam
through the water by
reducing drag from water resistance.
Attenborosaurus
is named after the Sir David Attenborough, who is perhaps best known
for narrating a huge amount of BBC nature documentaries. The species
name is derived from the original Plesiosaurus
conybeari, which
itself was named after William Conybeare who was one of two people who
named the Plesiosaurus genus back in 1821.
Further reading
- On a new species of Plesiosaurus (P.
Conybeari) from the Lower Lias
of Charmouth; with observations on P megacephalus, Stutchbury, and P.
brachycephalus, Owen. - W. J. Sollas - 1881.
- Plesiosaur extinction cycles - events that mark the beginning, middle
and end of the Cretaceous. - Geological Association of Canada, Special
Paper 39:641–664. - R. T. Bakker - 1993.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random marine creatures
|
 |
 |
 |