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PLESIOSAUR FOSSILS & TEETH FOR SALE
Plesiosaurs are an extinct class of marine reptile. Members of the Order Plesiosauria, they are characterized by broad, flat bodies, short tails, long necks, small heads, and four large flippers or paddles. They are generally thought to have been fish eaters. Their fossils are found all over the world, often as complete skeletons, making them one of the best described organisms of the Jurassic Period. Their teeth are the most common plesiosaur fossils, but vertebrae and other bones are also available.
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Plesiosaurs: Marine Reptiles Of The Mesozoic Seas
Plesiosaurs are among the most iconic marine reptiles that inhabited Earth during the Mesozoic Era, captivating scientists and enthusiasts with their distinctive body structure and fossil legacy. These creatures thrived in oceans worldwide, leaving behind a remarkable fossil record that offers insight into their biology, behavior, and evolution. They first appeared in the Late Triassic period, approximately 215 million years ago, and became more prominent during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They were contemporaries of dinosaurs, dominating marine environments for over 135 million years before their extinction during the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, around 66 million years ago.
Plesiosaurs were highly variable in size, ranging from smaller species measuring about 3 meters (10 feet) to massive examples exceeding 15 meters (50 feet) in length. They are distinguished by their unique body plan, which included:
Reconstruction of Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus by Dmitry Bogdanov. Creative Commons License
Behaviorally, plesiosaurs are thought to have been strong swimmers, although they were not built for high-speed chases. Some evidence, such as the contents of fossilized stomachs, suggests that they may have ingested stones (gastroliths) to aid in digestion or buoyancy control. Plesiosaurs exhibited streamlined bodies covered in smooth skin, likely similar to modern marine reptiles like sea turtles. Their coloration is speculative but may have involved countershading—dark on top and light underneath—to camouflage against predators and prey.
Plesiosaurs were apex predators in their ecosystems. Their diets varied based on their morphology:
Plesiosaurs vanished at the end of the Cretaceous period, likely as part of the mass extinction event that also wiped out the dinosaurs. However, their legacy lives on in folklore, including myths of "sea serpents" and the famous Loch Ness Monster, which some enthusiasts have speculated to be a living plesiosaur (a hypothesis unsupported by science). They remain a fascinating subject of study, bridging the gap between ancient marine ecosystems and modern-day marine biology. Their fossils continue to reveal new details, offering a glimpse into a time when these magnificent reptiles ruled the seas.