![]() ![]() Plesiosaurs existed in oceans across the world: in European seas and around the Pacific Ocean, including Australia, North America and Asia. They thrived until their disappearance in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, roughly 66 million years ago. These animals appeared in the Late Triassic period and became especially prevalent during the Jurassic period. Plesiosaurs (meaning "near to lizard") were a group of large, long-necked marine reptiles that belong to the order Plesiosauria. Let's dive in and take a look back at three other extinct sea creatures that dominated the Jurassic oceans.Ī reconstruction of the Rutland ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus trigonodon. But these were not the only predators patrolling the prehistoric seas. The number of ichthyosaur species peaked during the Triassic period (between 250 and 201 million years ago) and especially the Jurassic period (201 to 145 million years ago). As successful major predators, they were fundamental to Mesozoic marine ecosystems. ![]() It's a common misconception that ichthyosaurs were "swimming dinosaurs." But they were actually a group of marine reptiles which lived during the Mesozoic era (between 66 and 252 million years ago). This would make it the first occurrence of this ichthyosaur species in the U.K. The creature's anatomy suggests it most likely belongs to the species Temnodontosaurus trigonodon. Dean Lomax and palaeontological conservator Nigel Larkin.īased on analysis of microscopic fossils from the surrounding sediment, we were able to ascertain that the Rutland ichthyosaur is roughly 181.5 to 182 million years old. It was carefully excavated in August and September 2021 by a team of paleontologists assembled from around the UK (including myself), led by ichthyosaur expert Dr. The skeleton was discovered by Joe Davis of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in February 2021. ![]()
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