Cryptoclidus
| Cryptoclidus | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skeletal reconstruction of Cryptoclidus |
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| Temporal occurrence | ||||||||||||
| Middle to Upper Jurassic ( Callovium to Oxfordium ) | ||||||||||||
| 166.1 to 157.3 million years | ||||||||||||
| Locations | ||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cryptoclidus | ||||||||||||
| Seeley , 1892 | ||||||||||||
Cryptoclidus ("hidden collarbone") is a genus of extinct plesiosaurs , reptiles living in the seafrom the group of the Cryptoclididae . Due to the rich fossil record , also of young animals, from the marine deposits of the Middle to Upper Jurassic ( Callovian to Oxfordian ) 166.1 to 157.3 million years ago, Cryptoclidus is one of the best known plesiosaurs.
Locations
Cryptoclidus is best known from the Oxford clay of England, which is one of the richest occurrences of fossil marine dinosaurs in the world. It was also Cryptocleidus also found in France, other members of the family Cryptoclididae is also known from America.
description
Cryptoclidus had a slightly flattened skull that merged into the body with a long neck. It had four fins that resemble those of today's sea turtles and a short tail that was believed to be used for steering. It reached a length of up to eight meters.
nutrition
From Tricleidus , a relative of Cryptoclidus from the Upper Jurassic of America, fossil stomach contents are known, which consist of squid and remains of a shark . Sharks are probably not one of the usual prey animals, but this can be assumed from octopuses, since they were also found as prey in other plesiosaurs .
The stone swallowing
Cryptoclidus probably swallowed larger stones. This could have been for various reasons. To one of the buoyancy : Since the air-filled lungs of Cryptoclidus gave the body buoyancy, diving was difficult. The stones in the stomach could compensate for the buoyancy of the air, as with the recent crocodiles . Another function could have been the chopping of the food in a gizzard , because the animal could not chew with its pointed, needle-like teeth. The stomach stones (gastrolithe) ground up the food and supported digestion.
Predators
The young of Cryptoclidus were believed to have been hunted by sharks and pliosaurs. When the animals were fully grown, only large pliosaurs like Liopleurodon and Pliosaurus were a danger.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Plesiosauria Translation and Pronunciation Guide: Cryptoclidus .
- ↑ Fossil Works (Paleobiology Database) .
