Askeptosaurus
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Askeptosaurus Temporal range: Middle Triassic, 247–225 Ma |
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| Askeptosaurus italicus fossil | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Thalattosauria |
| Family: | Askeptosauridae |
| Genus: |
Askeptosaurus Nopcsa, 1925 |
| Species: | A. italicus |
| Binomial name | |
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Askeptosaurus italicus Nopcsa, 1925 |
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Askeptosaurus (Pronounced: Ah-Skep-Toe-Saw-Russ ) is an extinct genus of the prehistoric marine reptile order thalattosauria. Their fossils and existence evidences have been found in the areas what are now Italy and Switzerland. It is believed to live in the Middle Triassic period, around 247 to 225 million years ago.
Askeptosaurus was a thin, elongated creature. Fossil records show that Askeptosaurus averaged around 2 to 3 meters (6.6 to 9.8 feet) in length. Its tail was very long, accounting for almost half of the animal's total length.
Morphological analysis on its short limbs and the expanded zeugopodia suggested the species to be adapted to near-shore marine environment. Its webbed feet helped for steering through the water. Its slender body and long tail are believed to assist with aquatic locomotion. Judging from its elongated jaws and the many teeth-covered palate, its primary food source was fish.
Typical features of thalattosaurs are the elongated premaxilla and the relatively large snout, and a small or absent upper temporal fenestra. The cranial reconstruction of Askeptosaurus is consistent with the features previously listed: Askeptosaurus had a very slender and flattened skull. The snout was significantly elongated, the orbits were comparatively large, and the posterior skull table was deeply emarginated. The premaxilla of Askeptosaurus is almost half as long as the skull (maximum length is 26 cm (10.2 inches) among the investigated specimens) and forms more than one-third of the tooth row in the upper jaw. However, Askeptosaurus also had the following traits differ from the non-askeptosauroid thalattosaurs:
1. Lack of a fusion between postorbital and postfrontal.
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