Mesoleptos
Name:
Mesoleptos.
Phonetic: Me-so-lep-tos.
Named By: Cornalia & Chiozza - 1852.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Mosasauroidea.
Species: M. zendrinii
(type).
Diet: Carnivore/Piscivore.
Size: Roughly about 1 meter long.
Known locations: Croatia. Palestinian Teritory.
Slovenia.
Time period: Cenomanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: At least three specimens
known.
Mesoleptos
is a genus that shares several characteristics of snakes and primitive
mosasauroids,
however at the time of writing Mesoleptos
is thought to
be more likely a primitive mosasauroid. If correct then this would
place Mesoleptos closer to actual monitor lizards
than snakes, given
that later discoveries with mosasaurs indicate a monitor lizard lineage.
Mesoleptos
shows several features that would have supported a lifestyle that saw
it regularly entering into and swimming in water. These include a
laterally compressed tail as well as a reduction in limb size, though
Mesoleptos may well likely ventured out of the water
when resting.
Mesoleptos would have probably been a hunter of
small aquatic
organisms.
Further reading
- A new turtle of the genus Podocnemis from the
lower Cenomanian of
'Ein Yabrud. - Israel Journal of Zoology 27:169-175. - G.
Haas - 1978.
- The Cretaceous marine squamate Mesoleptos and
the origin of
snakes. - Bulletin of Natural History Museum London (Zool.)
68(2), p131-142. - Michael S. Y. Lee & John
D. Scanlon - 2002.
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