Content
- Differences between dinosaurs and other reptiles
- Types of marine dinosaurs
- Types of marine reptiles
- ichthyosaurs
- Examples of ichthyosaurs
- plesiosaurs
- mosasaurs
During the Mesozoic era, there was a great diversification of the reptile group. These animals colonized all environments: land, water and air. You marine reptiles have grown to enormous proportions, which is why some people know them as marine dinosaurs.
However, large dinosaurs never colonized the oceans. In fact, the famous Jurassic World marine dinosaur is actually another type of giant reptile that lived in the sea during the Mesozoic. So, in this PeritoAnimal article, we're not going to talk about types of marine dinosaurs, but about other giant reptiles that populated the oceans.
Differences between dinosaurs and other reptiles
Due to their large size and at least apparent ferocity, the giant marine reptiles are often classified as types of marine dinosaurs. However, the large dinosaurs (class Dinosauria) never lived in the oceans. Let's see the main differences between the two types of reptiles:
- taxonomy: With the exception of turtles, all large Mesozoic reptiles are included within the group of diapsid sauropsids. That means they all had two temporal openings in their skulls. However, dinosaurs belong to the group of archosaurs (Archosauria), as well as pterosaurs and crocodiles, while the large marine reptiles constituted other taxa that we will see later.
- ANDpelvic structure: the pelvis of the two groups had a different structure. As a result, dinosaurs had a rigid posture with the body resting on the legs, located below it. Marine reptiles, however, had their legs extended to either side of their bodies.
Discover all types of dinosaurs that once existed in this PeritoAnimal article.
Types of marine dinosaurs
Dinosaurs, contrary to popular belief, were not completely extinct. The ancestors of birds survived and had tremendous evolutionary success, colonizing the entire planet. current birds belong to the class Dinosauria, that is, are dinosaurs.
As there are birds that inhabit the seas, we can technically say that there are still some types of marine dinosaurs, such as penguins (family Spheniscidae), loons (family Gaviidae) and seagulls (family Laridae). There are even aquatic dinosaurs freshwater, like the cormorant (Phalacrocorax spp.) and all ducks (family Anatidae).
To learn more about the ancestors of birds, we recommend this other article on Types of Flying Dinosaurs. However, if you want to meet the great marine reptiles of the Mesozoic, read on!
Types of marine reptiles
The large reptiles that inhabited the oceans during the Mesozoic are divided into four groups, if we include the chelonioids (sea turtles). However, let's focus on those who are mistakenly known as types of marine dinosaurs:
- ichthyosaurs
- plesiosaurs
- mosasaurs
Now, we'll look at each of these massive marine reptiles.
ichthyosaurs
Ichthyosaurs (order Ichthyosauria) were a group of reptiles that looked similar to cetaceans and fish, however they are unrelated. This is called evolutionary convergence, meaning they developed similar structures as a result of adapting to the same environment.
These prehistoric marine animals were adapted to hunting in the ocean depths. Like dolphins, they had teeth, and their favorite prey was squid and fish.
Examples of ichthyosaurs
Here are some examples of ichthyosaurs:
- Çymbospondylus
- Macgowania
- temnosontosaurus
- Utatsusaurus
- ophthalmosaurus
- stenopterygius
plesiosaurs
The Plesiosaur order encompasses some of the biggest marine reptiles in the world, with specimens measuring up to 15 meters in length. Therefore, they are generally included among the types of "marine dinosaurs". However, these animals were extinct in the Jurassic, when dinosaurs were still in their prime.
The plesiosaurs had an aspect like a turtle, however they were more elongated and without hull. It is, as in the previous case, an evolutionary convergence. They are also the animals most similar to the Loch Ness Monster representations. Thus, the plesiosaurs were carnivorous animals and it is known that they fed on molluscs, such as the extinct Ammonites and Belemnites.
Examples of plesiosaurs
Some examples of plesiosaurs are:
- Plesiosaurus
- Kronosaurus
- Plesiopleurodon
- Microcleidus
- Hydrorion
- elasmosaurus
To learn more about the great Mesozoic predators, don't miss this other PeritoAnimal article on Types of Carnivorous Dinosaurs.
mosasaurs
The mosasaurs (family Mosasauridae) are a group of lizards (suborder Lacertilia) that were the dominant marine predators during the Cretaceous. During this period, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs were already extinct.
These aquatic "dinosaurs" from 10 to 60 feet physically resembled a crocodile. These animals are believed to have inhabited shallow, warm seas, where they fed on fish, diving birds and even other marine reptiles.
Examples of mosasaurs
Here are some examples of mosasaurs:
- Mosasaurus
- Tylosaurus
- Clidases
- Halisaurus
- platecarpus
- tethysaurus
O marine dinosaur from Jurassic World it is a Mosasaurus and, given that it measures 18 meters, it may even be the M. hoffmann, the largest “marine dinosaur” known to date.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of Marine Dinosaurs - Names and Photos, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.