Some marine reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, metriorhynchid thalattosuchians, and mosasaurs became so well adapted to a marine lifestyle that they were incapable of venturing onto land and gave birth in the water. Others, such as sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles, return to shore to lay their eggs. Some marine reptiles also occasionally rest and bask on land.
Sea turtles: there are seven extant species of sea turtles, which live mostly along the tropical and subtropical coastlines, though some do migrate long distances and have been known to travel as far north as Scandinavia. Sea turtles are largely solitary animals, though some do form large, though often loosely connected groups during nesting season. Although only seven turtle species are truly marine, many more dwell in brackish waters.[5][6]
Sea snakes: the most abundant of the marine reptiles, there are over 60 different species of sea snakes. They inhabit the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, though very limited reports of sightings suggest they may be extending into the Atlantic Ocean. Sea snakes are venomous and their bites have been known to be fatal, though generally they only bite when provoked and often inject only a very small, non-fatal quantity of venom. Sea snakes are distinguished from terrestrial snakes by a vertically flattened tail.[5][7]
Marine iguana: marine iguanas live only on the Galápagos Islands and are not fully adapted to marine life. Although they feed exclusively on marine plants and spend a good deal of their time in the water, they do nest on land and need to bask in the sun to reach their ideal body temperature; they are thus also subject to terrestrial predators.[5][8]
Saltwater and American crocodiles: none of the extant species of crocodiles are truly marine; however, the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) does display adaptations to saltwater inhabitation and dwells in the brackish waters of Southeast Asia and Australia. Saltwater crocodiles dispose of excess salt in their bodies through specialized salt glands. These are the largest species of crocodile, also making them the largest reptiles. They can grow up to six meters in length.[5][9] American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) similarly prefer brackish over freshwater habitats.[10]
Mosasaurs were a group of large, aquatic squamates (relatives of modern-day lizards and snakes) which became the dominant marine predators towards the end of the Cretaceous period.
Thalattosaurs were a group of aquatic or semiaquatic marine reptiles of uncertain placement within the diapsid clade. One subgroup, the thalattosauroids, are known for their unusual downturned snouts and crushing dentition.
Mesosaurs were quite possibly the very first fully aquatic reptilian animals and the only group known from the Paleozoic, though they are technically not true reptiles in the sense of not being part of the diapsid group. Taxonomic placement either puts these Permian animals resembling long-snouted lizards with newt-like tails either as members of Parareptilia or as a type of Synapsid.
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Conservation
Most species of marine reptiles are considered endangered to some degree. All but one species of sea turtles are endangered due to destruction of nesting habitats on coastal lands, exploitation, and marine fishing;[6] many species of sea snakes are threatened or endangered due to commercial exploitation (sale of skins) and pollution especially in Asia; marine iguanas are threatened due to their very limited habitation range.[5] Saltwater crocodiles are at low risk for extinction.[9]
^Piñeiro, Graciela; Ferigolo, Jorge; Ramos, Alejandro; Laurin, Michel (1 July 2012). "Cranial morphology of the Early Permian mesosaurid Mesosaurus tenuidens and the evolution of the lower temporal fenestration reassessed". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 11 (5): 379–391. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2012.02.001.
^Williston SW (1914) Water Reptiles of the Past and Present University of Chicago Press (reprint 2002). ISBN1-4021-4677-9
^Carvalho, Anny Rafaela De Araújo; Ghilardi, Aline Marcele; Barreto, Alcina Magnólia Franca (21 June 2016). "A new side-neck turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Early Paleocene (Danian) Maria Farinha Formation, Paraíba Basin, Brazil". Zootaxa. 4126 (4): 491. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4126.4.3.
^Langston, Wann; Gasparini, Z. (1997). "Crocodilians, Gryposuchus, and the South American gavials". In Kay, Richard F; Madden, Richard H; Cifelli, Richard L; Flynn, John J. (eds.). Vertebrate paleontology in the neotropics: the Miocene fauna of La Venta, Colombia. Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 113–154. ISBN978-1-56098-418-4.
^ abcdefRasmussen, Arne Redsted; Murphy, John C.; Ompi, Medy; Gibbons, J. Whitfield; Uetz, Peter (2011-11-08). "Marine Reptiles". PLOS ONE. 6 (11): e27373. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027373. PMC3210815. PMID 22087300.
^ abZug, George R. "Sea Turtle". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
^"Sea Snake". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
^"Marine Iguanas". National Geographic. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
^ ab"Saltwater crocodile". National Geographic. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
^Ellis, T. M. (1981). "Tolerance of Sea Water by the American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus". Journal of Herpetology. 15 (2): 187–192. doi:10.2307/1563379. JSTOR 1563379.
January 31, 2023
marine, reptile, reptiles, which, have, become, secondarily, adapted, aquatic, semiaquatic, life, marine, environment, reptiles, that, live, saltwater, crocodile, left, turtle, right, marine, iguana, bottom, left, snake, bottom, right, earliest, marine, reptil. Marine reptiles are reptiles which have become secondarily adapted for an aquatic or semiaquatic life in a marine environment Reptiles that live in the sea Saltwater crocodile top left Sea turtle top right Marine iguana bottom left Sea snake bottom right The earliest marine reptile Mesosaurus not to be confused with mosasaurus arose in the Permian period during the Paleozoic era 1 During the Mesozoic era many groups of reptiles became adapted to life in the seas including such familiar clades as the ichthyosaurs plesiosaurs these two orders were once thought united in the group Enaliosauria 2 a classification now cladistically obsolete mosasaurs nothosaurs placodonts sea turtles thalattosaurs and thalattosuchians Most marine reptile groups became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period but some still existed during the Cenozoic most importantly the sea turtles Other Cenozoic marine reptiles included the bothremydids 3 palaeophiid snakes a few choristoderes such as Simoedosaurus and dyrosaurid crocodylomorphs Various types of marine gavialid crocodilians remained widespread as recently as the Late Miocene 4 Currently of the approximately 12 000 extant reptile species and subspecies only about 100 are classed as marine reptiles extant marine reptiles include marine iguanas sea snakes sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles 5 Some marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs plesiosaurs metriorhynchid thalattosuchians and mosasaurs became so well adapted to a marine lifestyle that they were incapable of venturing onto land and gave birth in the water Others such as sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles return to shore to lay their eggs Some marine reptiles also occasionally rest and bask on land Contents 1 Extant living varieties 2 Extinct groups 3 Adaptation to the marine environment 4 Conservation 5 See also 6 ReferencesExtant living varieties Edit Hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Sea turtles there are seven extant species of sea turtles which live mostly along the tropical and subtropical coastlines though some do migrate long distances and have been known to travel as far north as Scandinavia Sea turtles are largely solitary animals though some do form large though often loosely connected groups during nesting season Although only seven turtle species are truly marine many more dwell in brackish waters 5 6 Sea snakes the most abundant of the marine reptiles there are over 60 different species of sea snakes They inhabit the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans though very limited reports of sightings suggest they may be extending into the Atlantic Ocean Sea snakes are venomous and their bites have been known to be fatal though generally they only bite when provoked and often inject only a very small non fatal quantity of venom Sea snakes are distinguished from terrestrial snakes by a vertically flattened tail 5 7 Marine iguana marine iguanas live only on the Galapagos Islands and are not fully adapted to marine life Although they feed exclusively on marine plants and spend a good deal of their time in the water they do nest on land and need to bask in the sun to reach their ideal body temperature they are thus also subject to terrestrial predators 5 8 Saltwater and American crocodiles none of the extant species of crocodiles are truly marine however the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus does display adaptations to saltwater inhabitation and dwells in the brackish waters of Southeast Asia and Australia Saltwater crocodiles dispose of excess salt in their bodies through specialized salt glands These are the largest species of crocodile also making them the largest reptiles They can grow up to six meters in length 5 9 American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus similarly prefer brackish over freshwater habitats 10 Extinct groups Edit Fossil of Ophthalmosaurus icenius a species of ichthyosaur Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles with a dolphin like body shape that flourished during the Mesozoic era Sauropterygians were a diverse group of aquatic reptiles adapted for flipper based aquatic locomotion This group included the plesiosaurs nothosaurs and placodonts Mosasaurs were a group of large aquatic squamates relatives of modern day lizards and snakes which became the dominant marine predators towards the end of the Cretaceous period Thalattosaurs were a group of aquatic or semiaquatic marine reptiles of uncertain placement within the diapsid clade One subgroup the thalattosauroids are known for their unusual downturned snouts and crushing dentition Mesosaurs were quite possibly the very first fully aquatic reptilian animals and the only group known from the Paleozoic though they are technically not true reptiles in the sense of not being part of the diapsid group Taxonomic placement either puts these Permian animals resembling long snouted lizards with newt like tails either as members of Parareptilia or as a type of Synapsid Adaptation to the marine environment EditSee also Physiology of underwater diving Aquatic reptiles This section is empty You can help by adding to it February 2020 Conservation EditMost species of marine reptiles are considered endangered to some degree All but one species of sea turtles are endangered due to destruction of nesting habitats on coastal lands exploitation and marine fishing 6 many species of sea snakes are threatened or endangered due to commercial exploitation sale of skins and pollution especially in Asia marine iguanas are threatened due to their very limited habitation range 5 Saltwater crocodiles are at low risk for extinction 9 See also EditList of marine reptiles Reptiles portalReferences Edit Pineiro Graciela Ferigolo Jorge Ramos Alejandro Laurin Michel 1 July 2012 Cranial morphology of the Early Permian mesosaurid Mesosaurus tenuidens and the evolution of the lower temporal fenestration reassessed Comptes Rendus Palevol 11 5 379 391 doi 10 1016 j crpv 2012 02 001 Williston SW 1914 Water Reptiles of the Past and Present University of Chicago Press reprint 2002 ISBN 1 4021 4677 9 Carvalho Anny Rafaela De Araujo Ghilardi Aline Marcele Barreto Alcina Magnolia Franca 21 June 2016 A new side neck turtle Pelomedusoides Bothremydidae from the Early Paleocene Danian Maria Farinha Formation Paraiba Basin Brazil Zootaxa 4126 4 491 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 4126 4 3 Langston Wann Gasparini Z 1997 Crocodilians Gryposuchus and the South American gavials In Kay Richard F Madden Richard H Cifelli Richard L Flynn John J eds Vertebrate paleontology in the neotropics the Miocene fauna of La Venta Colombia Smithsonian Institution Press pp 113 154 ISBN 978 1 56098 418 4 a b c d e f Rasmussen Arne Redsted Murphy John C Ompi Medy Gibbons J Whitfield Uetz Peter 2011 11 08 Marine Reptiles PLOS ONE 6 11 e27373 doi 10 1371 journal pone 0027373 PMC 3210815 PMID 22087300 a b Zug George R Sea Turtle Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Retrieved December 8 2015 Sea Snake Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Retrieved December 8 2015 Marine Iguanas National Geographic Retrieved December 8 2015 a b Saltwater crocodile National Geographic Retrieved December 8 2015 Ellis T M 1981 Tolerance of Sea Water by the American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus Journal of Herpetology 15 2 187 192 doi 10 2307 1563379 JSTOR 1563379 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marine reptile amp oldid 1132962141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
