Plesiosaur Size report

The plesiosaur is an extinct marine reptile belonging to the diapsid subclass Pinosaurus. It is a group that adapts to living in shallow water environments. It is named for its large size and long neck. According to the discovered fossils and research results, it can be known that the plesiosaur appeared in the late Triassic period, and its footprints had spread all over the world by the Jurassic period. It became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period.

The plesiosaur was huge; this prehistoric animal once ruled the seas in ancient times, ruling the Mesozoic ocean world together with ichthyosaurs. They have broad, flat bodies and flipper-like limbs. Living habits are similar to modern sea lions, living in the ocean and feeding on fish.

The plesiosaur was one of the first reptile fossils ever discovered. In the early 1800s, scientists realized their formation's uniqueness and named them in 1821. In the early 2000s, the number of fossil discoveries increased, leading to a better understanding of plesiosaurs' body structure and lifestyle. The following post share more interesting facts about this huge prehistoric wildlife.

Plesiosaurus Size and Appearance

Plesiosaurus are like mythical sea monsters. They have four flippers, and their swimming posture resembles a dragonfly flying. This kind of marine reptile is named for its long neck, and its 76 cervical vertebrae are ten times that of mammals. Plesiosaurs had a small head and short tail, a long and flexible neck, and long sharp teeth on the palate. The limbs were specialized into fleshy flippers suitable for paddling so that the plesiosaur could move freely in the water and climb ashore to rest or lay eggs to reproduce. Plesiosaurs can be divided into long-necked plesiosaurs and short-necked plesiosaurs according to the length of their necks.

Average Size of Plesiosaur

The bodies of many species of Plesiosaurus are very large, up to 11-15 meters long, and some species reach 18 meters and weigh 45 tons. To this day, humans do not have a precise understanding of the reproduction, habitat, and lifespan of this ancient aquatic animal that has long since disappeared.

Diet

Plesiosaurs are marine animals that hunt rocks, fish, or other prey to survive. In the fossils, clams, crabs, and other sea shellfish were found in the stomach of plesiosaurs, which proves that the diet of plesiosaurs is more extensive. Plesiosaurs captured prey with a U-shaped mouth and sharp teeth. They propel their bodies with two pairs of flippers, and their tails are too short to propelling them forward.

Final Words

Mary Anning discovered one of the first Great Flood reptiles, the plesiosaur, and caused quite a stir in Victorian England. It was named Plesiosaurus, meaning "closer lizard," by William Conybeare. Its neck occupies almost half the overall length, like a combination of a big snake and a turtle. In 1914, scientists confirmed that the cervical vertebrae of plesiosaurs could only swing and lift in a very small arc and could hardly raise the neck. Due to the special body structure, the plesiosaur cannot lift its limbs beyond the hips and fully submerge its body into the water. With the discovery of more and more plesiosaur bone fossils, people will one day unravel the mystery of this huge ancient aquatic animal.