Thalassiodracon: Research Database Plesiosauria (Sauropterygia) · Late Jurassic (~155–150 MYA) · Europe — England (Portland Limestone) Research Note: Thalassiodracon was a small plesiosaurian sauropterygian from the Late Jurassic of England. It represents one of the oldest known plesiosaurs and provides important data on the early evolution of the group. Its name means “sea dragon”. … Read more
In Depth Because the skull of Westphaliasaurus is so far unknown it is impossible to say for certain what the diet of Westphaliasaurus was. However most of the early Jurassic plesiosaurs were dedicated hunters of fish and possibly also squid, prey animals that would become a staple part of the diets of plesiosaurs throughout the … Read more
In Depth Hydrotherosaurus is comfortably placed within the Elasmosauridae, a group of plesiosaurs noted for having proportionately long necks. Also like these other genera, Hydrotherosaurus had long pointed teeth, but these seem to have projected more to the sides rather than just up and down. This however is quite a common feature seen in piscivorous … Read more
Monquirasaurus: Research Database Crocodyliformes (Reptilia) · Late Cretaceous (~95-90 MYA) · South America — Colombia (El Palmar Formation) Research Note: Monquirasaurus was a crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous of Colombia — a dyrosaurid and an important taxon for understanding crocodyliform diversity in the Cretaceous of South America. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method … Read more
In Depth Pantosaurus was originally described as Parasaurus, however this name had already been used to name a genus of Pareiasaur. Pantosaurus is a genus of plesiosaur that lived in North America during the late Jurassic. Pantosaurus has been noted as having a strong similarity to Muraenosaurus which is known from England and France, though … Read more
Peloneustes: Research Database Mesozoic · Fossil Record Research Note: Peloneustes was a significant fossil species providing important data on vertebrate evolution during the Mesozoic era. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Vincent & Bardet 2007: Peloneustes and plesiosaur diversity in the Jurassic Neues Jahrbuch Confirmed A 2007 Fossil Vincent & Bardet, … Read more
Gallardosaurus: Research Database Sauropterygia (Plesiosauria) · Middle Jurassic (~165 MYA) · Argentina Research Note: Gallardosaurus was a plesiosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Argentina — significant for understanding the evolutionary diversification of plesiosaurs during the Jurassic in Gondwana. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Vincent & Bardet 2007: Gallardosaurus and plesiosaur … Read more
Polyptychodon: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Polyptychodon was a theropoda from the Cretaceous of Unknown, providing important data on prehistoric life and ecosystem dynamics. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Madzia 2016: Polyptychodon and related taxa PeerJ Confirmed A 2016 Fossil Madzia, PeerJ Taxonomy Owen 1860: Polyptychodon … Read more
In Depth Stratesaurus represents a genus of rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur, a type of plesiosaur noted for having a shorter neck and proportionately larger head than other plesiosaurs, though not to the extent of pliosaurs. The discovery of Stratesaurus in Hettangian aged rocks means that individual Stratesaurus were swimming in European waters near the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, which … Read more
Aristonectes: Research Database Plesiosauria (Sauropterygia) · Late Cretaceous (~70-66 MYA) · Antarctica & South America — Antarctica, Argentina Research Note: Aristonectes was a plesiosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Antarctica and Argentina — one of the last known plesiosaurs before the end-Cretaceous extinction and an important taxon for understanding plesiosaur diversity and biogeography in … Read more