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Plioplatecarpine
Plioplatecarpinae is a subfamily of mosasaurs, a diverse group of Late Cretaceous marine squamates. Members of the subfamily are informally and collectively known as "plioplatecarpines" and have been recovered from all continents, though the occurrences in Australia remain questionable. The subfamily includes the genera '' Latoplatecarpus'', ''Platecarpus'', ''Plioplatecarpus'' and '' Plesioplatecarpus''. Plioplatecarpines were small to medium-sized mosasaurs that were comparatively fast and agile compared to mosasaurs of other subfamilies. The first plioplatecarpines appear in the Turonian and are among the oldest of mosasaurs, and the clade persists throughout the Maastrichtian, a period of approximately 24 million years. The subfamily was seemingly heavily affected during a poorly understood middle-Campanian mosasaur extinction event and its genera appear to have faced competition from mosasaurine mosasaurs during the Maastrichtian, leading to a decline in numbers and in diver ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Selmasaurus
''Selmasaurus'' is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Plioplatecarpinae subfamily alongside genera like ''Angolasaurus'' and ''Platecarpus''. Two species are known, ''S. russelli'' and ''S. johnsoni''; both are exclusively known from Santonian deposits in the United States. ''Selmasaurus'' is unique among the mosasaurs in that its skull is unusually akinetic, meaning that it is incapable of widening to swallow larger prey. Most mosasaurs have skulls which possess "coupled kinesis" (mesokinesis and streptostyly), that is, parts of the jaw can open widely to accommodate large prey. History of discovery First recognized by geologist Samuel Wayne Shannon in his 1975 Master's thesis, "Selected Alabama Mosasaurs", the taxon remained a ''nomen nudum'' until it was officially described in 1988 in an article coauthored by Wright. The type specimen, formerly reposited at the Geological Survey of Alabama and cataloged as GSAT ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Gavialimimus
''Gavialimimus'' is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur from the Maastrichtian of Morocco and possibly Angola. Discovery and naming In 2020, Strong and colleagues named a new genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur ''Gavialimimus'' based on the specimen MHNM.KHG.1231, an articulated skull and associated fragmentary postcrania found in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, which was designated as the holotype. The etymology of this genus means "gharial mimic" (Hindi ''Gavial ='' "gharial" + Greek ''mimus'' = "mimic"), referring to morphological convergence between ''Gavialimimus'' and the extant gharial (''Gavialis gangeticus''). The specific name ''almaghribensis'' references al-Maghrib, the type locality of ''Gavialimimus''. In 2022, Longrich and colleagues reported various marine vertebrate remains with signs of acid damage including a rostrum assigned to ''G. almaghribensis'' (MHNM.KHG.519) found in close vicinity to ''Thalassotitan'', suggesting that these fossils are digested by t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Goronyosaurus
''Goronyosaurus'' is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. Fossils of ''Goronyosaurus'' are exclusively known from the Late Maastrichtian of the Iullemmeden Basin in West Africa, specifically the Dukamaje Formation of Niger and Nigeria and List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Niger, Farin Doutchi Formation of Niger. The type specimen was first described in 1930 as ''Mosasaurus nigeriensis'', but subsequent remains revealed a highly unique set of adaptations that prompted the species to be reclassified as the only species of the new genus ''Goronyosaurus'' in 1972. These unique adaptations have made ''Goronyosaurus'' notoriously difficult to classify within the Mosasauridae and it is often left out of phylogenetic analyses, although most authors agree that ''Goronyosaurus'' belonged to Mosasauridae. ''Goronyosaurus'' possesses unique teeth, which are unlike the teeth of any other mosasaur. Instead of the cutting teeth common among mosasaurs, '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Khinjaria
''Khinjaria'' (meaning "dagger") is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Late Cretaceous Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, ''K. acuta'', known from a partial skull and vertebra. ''Khinjaria'' was likely an apex predator in its environment, as its large body size, blade-like teeth, and unusual skull morphology would have allowed it to attack large prey animals. Discovery and naming The ''Khinjaria'' holotype specimen, MHNM.KHG.521, was discovered in sediments of the Oulad Abdoun Basin (Lower Couche III, Sidi Chennane locality) in Khouribga Province, Morocco. The specimen consists of a partial skull (with a partial premaxilla, both maxillae, the prefrontals, the frontal and parietal, right postorbitofrontal, partial right squamosal, and a dentary) and an associated vertebra, possibly coming from the trunk region. In 2024, Longrich ''et al.'' described ''Khinjaria acuta'' as a new genus and species of plioplatecarpine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Angolasaurus
''Angolasaurus'' ("Angola lizard") is an extinct genus of mosasaur. Definite remains from this genus have been recovered from the Turonian and Coniacian of Angola, and possibly the Coniacian of the United States, the Turonian of Brazil, and the Maastrichtian of Niger. While at one point considered a species of ''Platecarpus'', recent phylogenetic analyses have placed it between the (then) plioplatecarpines ''Ectenosaurus'' and ''Selmasaurus'', maintaining a basal position within the plioplatecarpinae. Its wide geographic range make it one of the only Turonian mosasaurs with a transatlantic range. Description ''Angolasaurus'' was a small mosasaur, with a skull length estimated at , suggesting a possible total length of about 4 meters (13 feet) based on the ratio provided by Russell (1967). It shared much of a body plan with its relative ''Platecarpus'', but with a slightly longer skull relative to body length. Its skull housed 11 maxillary teeth, 4 premaxillary teeth, and 12 de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ectenosaurus
''Ectenosaurus'' is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Plioplatecarpinae subfamily alongside genera like ''Angolasaurus'' and ''Platecarpus''. ''Ectenosaurus'' is known from the Santonian and Campanian of Kansas, Alabama, and Texas. The generic name means "drawn-out lizard", from Greek ''ectenes'' ("drawn-out") and Greek ''sauros'' ("lizard") referencing the elongated muzzle. Description With the preserved skull about long, ''Ectenosaurus'' is estimated to have reached in length. It was a rare genus of mosasaur with several unique characteristics that clearly separate it from other mosasaur genera. The most prominent of these features is its elongated jaws, elongated in a similar vein to other mosasaurs with elongated jaws, such as ''Plotosaurus'' and ''Pluridens''. Dale Allan Russell (1967) considered the form of the teeth, the shape of the frontal and the large suprastapedial process of the quadrate as ev ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Latoplatecarpus
''Latoplatecarpus'' is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur known from the Late Cretaceous (early middle Campanian stage) of the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Western Interior Basin of North America, and a singular specimen from the Saratov Region, of Russia. It was among the largest plioplatecarpine mosasaur, with ''L. nichollsae'' measuring over in total body length. Discovery ''Latoplatecarpus'' was named by Takuya Konishi and Michael W. Caldwell in 2011 and the type species is ''Latoplatecarpus willistoni''. ''L. willistoni'' is known from the holotype TMP 84.162.01, a nearly complete skull, including the mandible and dentary, and a partial postcranial skeleton. The holotype was collected in the Pembina Mountain, in southern Manitoba, from the Pembina Member of the Pierre Shale, dating to the early middle Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 80.5 million years ago. Three specimens are also referred to this species, including DMNH 876 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Platecarpus
''Platecarpus'' ("oar wrist") is an extinct genus of aquatic lizards belonging to the mosasaur family, living around 84–81 million years ago during the middle Santonian to early Campanian, of the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils have been found in the United States and possible specimens in Belgium and Africa. A well-preserved specimen of ''Platecarpus'' shows that it fed on moderate-sized fish, and it has been hypothesized to have fed on squid, and ammonites as well. Like other mosasaurs, it was initially thought to have swum in an eel-like fashion, although another study suggests that it swam more like modern sharks. An exceptionally well-preserved specimen of ''P. tympaniticus'' known as LACM 128319 shows skin impressions, pigments around the nostrils, bronchial tubes, and the presence of a high-profile tail fluke, showing that it and other mosasaurs did not necessarily have an eel-like swimming method, but were more powerful, fast swimmers. It is held in the Natural History Mu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Plesioplatecarpus
''Plesioplatecarpus'' is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur known from the Late Cretaceous (middle Coniacian to middle Santonian stage) of the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Western Interior Basin of North America. History ''Plesioplatecarpus'' was originally named by Cope in 1874 as ''Clidastes planifrons'', and later it was reassigned to ''Platecarpus''. The name ''Plesioplatecarpus'' was erected by Takuya Konishi and Michael W. Caldwell in 2011 to incorporate ''Platecarpus planifrons'', which was found to be distinct from ''Platecarpus'' in a phylogenetic analysis. It is known from the holotype AMNH 1491, a nearly complete skeleton A skeleton is the structural frame that supports the body of most animals. There are several types of skeletons, including the exoskeleton, which is a rigid outer shell that holds up an organism's shape; the endoskeleton, a rigid internal fra .... Many other specimens are also referred to this species, including FHSM VP ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Mosasaur
Mosasaurs (from Latin ''Mosa'' meaning the 'Meuse', and Ancient Greek, Greek ' meaning 'lizard') are an extinct group of large aquatic reptiles within the family Mosasauridae that lived during the Late Cretaceous. Their first fossil remains were discovered in a limestone quarry at Maastricht on the Meuse in 1764. They belong to the order Squamata, which includes lizards and snakes. During the last 20 million years of the Cretaceous period (Turonian–Maastrichtian ages), with the extinction of the ichthyosaurs and Pliosauridae, pliosaurs, mosasaurids became the dominant marine predators. They themselves became extinct as a result of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, K-Pg event at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago. Description Mosasaurs breathed air, were powerful swimmers, and were well-adapted to living in the warm, shallow Inland sea (geology), inland seas prevalent during the Late Cretaceous period. Mosasaurs were so well adapted to thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Sarabosaurus
''Sarabosaurus'' (from the Arabic "sarab", meaning desert mirage and the Greek "sauros", meaning lizard) is a monospecific genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the lower Turonian Tropic Shale of Utah, United States. The type and only species, ''S. dahli'', was named in honor of Steve Dahl, a volunteer at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Kanab, Utah. Discovery The holotype specimen of ''Sarabosaurus'', UMNH VP21800, preserves a decent amount of the skull and of the axial postcranial skeleton. Even though it is the oldest mosasaurid currently known from the Western Interior Seaway, having been dated at around 93.7 Ma, the presence of a unique vascular pattern of the basisphenoid that has thus far only been found in derived members of the clade Plioplaticarpinae has warranted the animal's inclusion in this group. Phylogenetic analysis has recovered ''S. dahli'' as the sister taxon to ''Yaguarasaurus ''Yaguarasaurus'' is an extinct genus of mosasauroid from t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
