Thalattosaurus
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Thalattosaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 235.0–221.5 Ma |
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| Thalattosaurus with its relative Nectosaurus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Order: | Thalattosauria |
| Family: | Thalattosauridae |
| Genus: |
Thalattosaurus Merriam, 1904 |
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Thalattosaurus (pron.:"tha-la-to-SORE-us") meaning "ocean lizard" is an extinct genus of marine reptile in the family Thalattosauridae. They are aquatic diapsids that are known exclusively from the Triassic period, and have recently gained attention as a result of studies on general diapsid phylogeny.
Thalattosaurus was a shellfish-eating reptile around 2 meters (7 ft) in length occurring in the Lower and Middle of British Columbia as well as Upper Triassic of California.
Although originally described as four distinct species by Merriam in 1905, one was proven to be T. alexandrae upon further inspection and another has a missing type specimen. Currently it is believed to include two known species; Thalattosauridae alexandrae and Thalattosauridae borealis.
Both species have paddle-like limbs and a down-turned rostrum.
Thalattosaurus alexandrae was named by Merriam in 1904, Thallattosaurus meaning "ocean lizard" and alexandrae in honor of Annie Alexander, an amateur paleontologist and patron to the University of California Museum of Paleontology.Thalattosaurus borealis was named after its Northern appearance, with Thalattosaurus meaning "ocean lizard" and borealis coming from boreas (Greek word, βορέας) meaning "Northern."
Thalattosauroidea (which contains Clarazia and Thalattosaurus) have a relatively short rostrum, distinct from the elongate primitive condition, with convergent lateral margins that terminate in a pointed tip. It is also characteristic of their supratemporal to contact the frontal bone, having a heavy postorbital bar, diastema present that separates the premaxillary from the maxillary teeth, and a deep lower jaw. The Thalattosauroidea are easily distinguished by their down-turned snouts. In Clarazia and Thalattosaurus, the snouts taper to a narrow tip, with the premaxilla at the tip down-turned.
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Wikipedia