Pelagosaurus
Pelagosaurus Temporal range: Toarcian
| |
---|---|
Cast of Pelagosaurus typus (skeleton and scutes) at the Field Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauria |
Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
Clade: | Crocodyliformes |
Suborder: | †Thalattosuchia |
Genus: | †Pelagosaurus Bronn, 1841[1] |
Species: | †P. typus
|
Binomial name | |
†Pelagosaurus typus Bronn, 1841[1]
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Pelagosaurus (meaning "lizard of the open sea") is an
Discovery
Pelagosaurus was originally described from a specimen from
Evolutionary relationships
The evolutionary relationships of Pelagosaurus have historically been contentious as there have been several different interpretations of its placement in Thalattosuchia.
Pelagosaurus was initially classified as a
Palaeobiology
Pelagosaurus was well adapted to aquatic life; it had developed a long, streamlined snout, a tail with fin-like attributes and paddle-like limbs for swimming in the warm, shallow waters of its time. Pelagosaurus had 30 teeth suitable for hunting and grasping fish, crustaceans and insects whilst swimming; indeed, one fossil specimen was found with a Leptolepis— an early teleost fish— in its stomach contents. Its forward-facing eyes and streamlined body suggest that Pelagosaurus was a pursuit predator, rather than a scavenger or ambush hunter. Pelagosaurus was markedly similar to modern crocodiles, and would have swum in much similar manner, whipping its tail from side to side, although its veterbral structure was slightly more agile, probably allowing for more movement in the water than its modern equivalents. Pelagosaurus would have only emerged from the water to lay eggs or to rest on the banks, and would have spent the rest of its day in the water for which it was adapted.[3]
Comparisons with other crocodilians shows it was a small prey specialist, less suited to tackle large prey than even modern gharials.[19]
See also
References
- ^ a b Bronn HG. 1841. Über die fossilen Gaviale der Lias-Formation und der Oolithe. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Berlin 8:77–82.
- PMID 29761038.
- ^ a b Pierce SE, Benton MJ. 2006. Pelagosaurus typus Bronn, 1841 (Mesoeucrocodylia: Thalattosuchia) from the Upper Lias (Toarcian, Lower Jurassic) of Somerset, England. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (3): 621–635.
- ^ Eudes-Deslongchamps JAE. 1863. "Mémoire sur les Téléosauriens de l’époque Jurassique du Département de Calvados". Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Normandie 13:1–138.
- ^ Eudes-Deslongchamps EE. 1877. Le Jura Normand, 4. F. Savy (ed). Paris. 60 p.
- ^ Westphal F. 1961. "Zur Systematik der deutschen und englischen Lias Krokodilier". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 113:207–217.
- ^ Westphal F. 1962. Die Krokodilen des deutschen und englischen oberen Lias. Palaeontographica, Abteilung A 118:1–96.
- ^ Duffin CJ. 1979. "Pelagosaurus (Mesosuchia, Crocodilia) from the English Toarcian (Lower Jurassic)". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte 1979:475–485.
- ^ Buffetaut E. 1980. Position systématique et phylogénetique du genre Pelagosaurus Bronn, 1841 (Crocodylia, Mesosuchia), du Toarcian d’Europe. Geobios 13:783–786.
- ^ Buffetaut E. 1982. Radiation évolutive, paléoécologie et biogéographie des crocodiliens mésosuchiens. Mémoires de la Sociéte Géologique de France 42:1–88.
- ^ Benton MJ, Clark JM. 1988. Archosaur phylogeny and the relationships of the Crocodylia; pp. 295–338 in MJ. Benton (ed.), The phylogeny and classification of the tetrapods, Vol. 1. Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds. Systematic Association Special Volume 35A. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
- ^ Clark JM. 1994. Patterns of evolution in Mesozoic Crocodyliformes; pp. 84–97 in NC. Fraser and H-D. Sues (eds.), In the shadow of the dinosaurs: Early Mesozoic tetrapods. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York.
- ^ Buckley GA, Brochu CA, Krause DW, Pol D. 2000. A pugnosed crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Nature 405:941–944.
- ^ Mueller-Töwe IJ. 2005. Phylogenetic relationships of the Thalattosuchia. Zitteliana A45: 211–213.
- ^ Gasparini Z, Pol D, Spalletti LA. 2006. An unusual marine crocodyliform from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary of Patagonia. Science 311: 70-73.
- ^ Young MT. 2007. The evolution and interrelationships of Metriorhynchidae (Crocodyliformes, Thalattosuchia). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27 (3): 170A.
- PMID 33083104.
- S2CID 256149424.
- )