Thalassomedon
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Thalassomedon (from Greek, thalassa, "sea" and Greek, medon, "lord" or "ruler", meaning "sea lord") is a genus of plesiosaur, named by Welles in 1943.
Description
Thalassomedon is among the largest elasmosaurids, with the holotype measuring Script error: No such module "convert". long and weighing more than Script error: No such module "convert"..[1][2] There is a larger skull, however, suggesting a much larger animal, potentially up to Script error: No such module "convert"..[3] The neck is also very long; it comprises 62 vertebrae[4] and is about Script error: No such module "convert". - over half of the total length. The skull is Script error: No such module "convert". long, with Script error: No such module "convert". long teeth. The flippers were about Script error: No such module "convert". long. Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorize that they were used for ballast or digestion. If the latter, stomach action would cause the stones to help grind ingested food.
Discovery
This genus of plesiosaur lived in North America, approximately 95 million years ago - this places it during the Cenomanian stage. Its closest relative is Elasmosaurus, and both belong to the family Elasmosauridae. There are six specimens of varying states of preservation on display at various museums in the United States.
See also
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References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Smith, Elliott Armour. (2020). "Revision of the Genus Styxosaurus and Relationships of the Late Cretaceous Elasmosaurids (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) of the Western Interior Seaway". Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1335. https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1335
- ↑ Carpenter, K. (1999). "Revision of North American elasmosaurs from the Cretaceous western interior." Paludicola, 2(2): 148-173.
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External links
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