Where did the Temnodontosaurus live?
Temnodontosaurus was an ichthyosaur from the early Jurassic, some 196 to 190 million years ago. It was found in England by Mary Anning, and later in Germany….Temnodontosaurus.
| Temnodontosaurus Temporal range: Lower Jurassic | |
|---|---|
| Suborder: | Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | Leptopterygiidae |
| Genus: | Temnodontosaurus Lydekker, 1889 |
| Species |
How big is a Temnodontosaurus?
Temnodontosaurus was one of the largest ichthyosaurs. Estimates of the maximum length of Temnodontosaurus have ranged from 9 m (30 ft) to 12 m (39 ft). The largest of these estimates rival the lengths of another giant ichthyosaur, Shonisaurus popularis, which was previously considered the largest ichthyosaur.
Is the Temnodontosaurus a dinosaur?
But ironically, the first skull was not of a dinosaur — it belonged to Temnodontosaurus platyodon, an ichthyosaur (Figure 1). Ichthyosaurs are an iconic group of marine reptiles that are best known for the evolution of a fish-shaped body, which is reflected in their name that means ‘fish lizard’ [2].
When did plesiosaurs go extinct?
66 million years ago
Finally extinct Plesiosaurs thrived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Some evolved into the short-necked, large-headed pliosaurs, such as the enormous Predator X. They died out 66 million years ago, along with the dinosaurs.
Can plesiosaur walk land?
The fossil’s abdominal cavity contains tiny bones—parts of a plesiosaur that hadn’t been born by the time its mother died. “Scientists have long known that the bodies of plesiosaurs were not well suited to climbing onto land and laying eggs in a nest [like dinosaurs].
What killed the mosasaurus?
During the last 20 million years of the Cretaceous period (Turonian–Maastrichtian ages), with the extinction of the ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs, mosasaurs became the dominant marine predators. They became extinct as a result of the K-Pg event at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago.
How big are the eyes of a Temnodontosaurus?
Temnodontosaurus is known for its incredibly large eyes which, at approximately 20 cm (8 in) in diameter, are believed to be the largest of any known animal. It possessed a tail bend which was characteristic of Jurassic ichthyosaurs and had many conical teeth filling its jaw that were set in a continuous groove.
Where did the Temnodontosaurus lizard come from?
Temnodontosaurus (Greek for “cutting-tooth lizard” – temno, meaning “to cut”, odont meaning “tooth” and sauros meaning “lizard”) is an extinct genus of ichthyosaurs from the Early Jurassic, ranging between 200 and 175 million years ago ( Hettangian – Toarcian ), and known from Europe ( England, France, Germany and Belgium ).
What kind of food did the Temnodontosaurus eat?
Temnodontosaurus was an apex predator in the Early Jurassic seas. Its diet likely consisted mainly of vertebrates such as fish, plesiosaurs and other ichthyosaurs, and may also have preyed on cephalopods.
How are Temnodontosaurus different from other ichthyosaurs?
Temnodontosaurus so had an unreduced pelvic girdle, unlike post- Triassic ichthyosaurs. Like other ichthyosaurs, the fins exhibited strong hyperphalangy. Temnodontosaurus only had 3 primary digits, compared to Ichthyosaurus, which had 6 to 7 digits. It also had one postaxial accessory digit.