Brachauchenius: Research Database Pliosauridae (Sauropterygia) · Late Cretaceous (~95–85 MYA) · North America — USA, Texas, Colorado (Woodbine, Eagle Ford Groups) Research Note: Brachauchenius was a pliosaurid plesiosaur from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America. As one of the last known pliosaurids — a group of short-necked, large-headed marine reptiles that … Read more
Cymatosaurus: Research Database Nothosauroidea (Sauropterygia) · Middle Triassic (~244-240 MYA) · Europe — Germany, Switzerland (Muschelkalk) Research Note: Cymatosaurus was a nothosauroid sauropterygian from the Middle Triassic of Europe — a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of sauropterygians in the Triassic. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Maisch 2014: … Read more
In Depth Eardasaurus is a genus of pliosaur known to have lived around European waters during the Middle Jurassic. The skull of Eardasaurus displays some proportional features that are similar to the famous Liopleurodon, including a diastema where the premaxilla meets the maxilla. However the skull of Eardasaurus suggests that as many as thirty-four to … Read more
In Depth Parahenodus is a genus of placodont that lived in European waters during the late Triassic. The placodonts were marine reptiles that hunted for shellfish. The holotype skull of Parahenodus is very similar to the Henodus genus, hence the name Parahenodus which means ‘near Henodus’. Like Henodus, Parahenodus would be expected to have had … Read more
Cardiocorax: Research Database Pterosauria (Archosauromorpha) · Late Cretaceous (~70-66 MYA) · Africa — Angola (Mamüe奈) Research Note: Cardiocorax was a pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Angola — an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity in the latest Cretaceous of Africa and the end-Cretaceous extinction of pterosaurs. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method … Read more
Psephoderma: Research Database Marine Reptilia · Triassic · Europe Research Note: Psephoderma was a placodont marine reptile from the Triassic of Europe, providing important data on marine reptile evolution and adaptation during the Triassic period. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Klein & Scheyer 2012: Psephoderma and placodont diversity in the … Read more
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
Placodus: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Placodus 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 Sues 1987: Placodus and related taxa Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Confirmed B 1987 Fossil Sues, Journal of … 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