Prehistoric Marine Predators Continued

Brendan & Ethan

The plesiosaurus was one of the most interesting and unique of the prehistoric predators of the Jurassic Period. It’s name derives from Latin and means “near to lizard.” The plesiosaurus had an elongated neck, four flippers, and a stubby tail. Plesiosaurus had an average height of around 3.28 ft, an average length of around 11.48 ft, and weighed around 992 pounds. Because of it’s strange and disproportioned shape, plesiosaurus had a top speed of 10.25 mph. Plesiosaurus’ had hearing similar to that of whales and dolphins of today, and it’s eyes were positioned on the side of its head facing upwards. The plesiosaurus preyed on small fishes and used it’s long sharp teeth quickly snatch up prey. Also, like most marine reptiles from this era, plesiosaurus gave live birth to its young, and stayed with them until they were ready to survive on their own in the vast oceans of the Jurassic.

Widely considered to be the largest marine predator to ever exist, Liopleurodon, a species of Pliosauroidea, dominated the oceans during the late Jurassic, for no beast was willing to take on its immense size and arsenal of huge, sharp teeth. The name Liopleurodon derives from Latin and means “smooth-sided tooth,” a name fitting for a predator with a 4.1 ft long skull loaded with 4 in teeth. Liopleurodon had a height of around 9.84 ft, a length of 22.96 ft, and weighed 2.8 tons. With a massive body supported by four, large flippers acting like wings in the water, there has never been a aquatic predator quite like Liopleurodon. Due to its size, Liopleurodon was extremely slow, with a top speed of only 6.21 mph. Even with a lack agility, Liopleurodon proved to be an effective predator of ichthyosaurus, large fish, and other pliosauroidea by using it’s binocular-like vision and superb sense of smell. With its wide set of attributes Liopleurodon certainly was a dominant predator during its rule of the sea.

References:

Plesiosaurus. (n.d.). Retrieved from BBC Earth website: http://www.walkingwithdinosaurs.com/

   dinosaurs/detail/plesiosaurus/

Phillips, S. M. (Director). (2008). Sea monsters: A prehistoric adventure. United States: National

   Geographic. (2007)

Liopleurodon. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2014, from Walking With Dinosaurs website: http://www.walkingwithdinosaurs.com/dinosaurs/detail/liopleurodon/