Cymatosaurus

Sy-mat-oh-sore-us.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Cymatosaurus.

Phonetic

Sy-mat-oh-sore-us.

Named By

Fritsch‭ ‬-‭ ‬1894.‭

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Sauropterygia,‭ ‬Pistosauroidea.

Diet

Piscivore.

Species

C.‭ ‬fridericianus

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Germany.

Time Period

Olenekian to the Anisian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

At least two individuals.

In Depth

       Cymatosaurus is usually seen to be a member of the Pistosauridea.‭ ‬This group of marine reptiles were the forerunners of the plesiosaurs which seem to have evolved from later more advanced pistosauroid forms.‭ ‬Other members of this group include Augustasaurus and Pistosaurus,‭ ‬but Cymatosaurus probably also shared the ocean with placodonts like Placodus,‭ ‬icthyosaurs like Cymbospondylus and Mixosaurus,‭ ‬nothosaurs like Nothosaurus and sharks like Hybodus.

Further Reading

– A well preserved skull of Cymatosaurus (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the uppermost Buntsandstein (Middle Triassic) of Germany. – Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und Pal�ontologie – Abhandlungen. 272 (2): 213–224. – Michael W. Maisch – 2014.

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