Cast of Pelagosaurus typus (skeleton and scutes) at the Field Museum of Natural History
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Clade:
Archosauria
Clade:
Pseudosuchia
Clade:
Crocodylomorpha
Clade:
Crocodyliformes
Suborder:
†Thalattosuchia
Genus:
†Pelagosaurus Bronn, 1841[1]
Species:
†P. typus
Binomial name
†Pelagosaurus typus
Bronn, 1841[1]
Synonyms
Mosellaesaurus Monard, 1846
Pelagosaurus (meaning "lizard of the open sea") is an extinct genus of thalattosuchian crocodyliform that lived during the Toarcian stage of the Lower Jurassic, around 183 Ma to 176 Ma (million years ago), in shallow epicontinental seas that covered much of what is now Western Europe. The systematic taxonomy of Pelagosaurus has been fiercely disputed over the years, and was assigned to Thalattosuchia after its systematics within Teleosauridae were disputed. Pelagosaurus measured 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) long.[2]
^ abBronn HG. 1841. Über die fossilen Gaviale der Lias-Formation und der Oolithe. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Berlin8:77–82.
^Attila Ősi; Mark T. Young; András Galácz; Márton Rabi (2018). "A new crocodyliform thalattosuchian large body from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Hungary, with further evidence of the mosaic acquisition of marine adaptations in Metriorhynchoidea". PeerJ. 6: e4668. doi:10.7717/peerj.4668. PMC 5949208. PMID 29761038.
systematics within Teleosauridae were disputed. Pelagosaurus measured 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) long. Pelagosaurus was originally described from a specimen from...
while the flattened scapula bears resemblance to Macrospondylus and Pelagosaurus with the almost equally expanded distal and proximal ends. The humerus...
while the creatures fed on surface plankton. Pelagosaurus was a known predator of Leptolepis, as a Pelagosaurus fossil was found with Leptolepis remains in...
wide. In other pseudosuchians like Steneosaurus, Machimosaurus, and Pelagosaurus, the sacral ribs are less angled and more horizontal; in this way, Cricosaurus...
this would have on teleosaur evolution. Namely, this analysis recovered Pelagosaurus as being nested deeply within teleosauroids as well, despite the fact...
humerus and scapulocoracoid (NHMUK PV R36634). A Rhamphorhynchid pterosaur Pelagosaurus P. typus Whitby Alum Shale Thalattosuchian Rhomaleosaurus R. thorntoni...
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