Aigialosaurus: Research Database
Reptilia (Squamata: Mosasauria) · Late Cretaceous · Europe
Research Note: Aigialosaurus was a mosasaur from the Late Cretaceous — significant for understanding mosasaur diversity and evolution during the Cretaceous period.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bastiaans & Kroll 2020: Aigialosaurus and mosasaur diversity in the Cretaceous Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Bastiaans & Kroll, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Fanti & Cau 2014: New data on Aigialosaurus and Cretaceous mosasaurs Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | B | 2014 | Fossil | Fanti & Cau, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
Status:
Confirmed Direct evidence
Grade:A Strong consensus
B Good evidence
What We Still Do Not Know About Aigialosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Phylogenetic relationships.
- Ecological role.
In Depth
Aigialosaurus was a semi aquatic lizard that was developed to enter the water yet still return to land. This is similar to many other lizards at this stage of the Cretaceous that would eventually evolve into the mosauridae, the last major group of marine reptiles that would adapt to ocean life during the Mesozoic.
Further Reading
– A redescription of Aigialosaurus (Opetiosaurus) bucchichi (Kornhuber, 1901) (Squamata: Aigialosauridae) with comments on mosasauroid systematics. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29 (2): 437-452. – Alex R. Dutchak & Michael W. Caldwell – 2009.
