Thalassomedon is among the largest elasmosaurids, with the holotype measuring 10.86 metres (35.6 ft) long and weighing more than 4.44 metric tons (4.89 short tons).[1][2] There is a larger skull, however, suggesting a much larger animal, potentially up to 11.6 metres (38 ft).[3] The neck is also very long; it comprises 62 vertebrae[4] and is about 5.9 metres (19 ft) - over half of the total length. The skull is 47 centimetres (19 in; 1.54 ft) long, with 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long teeth. The flippers were about 1.5–2 metres (4.9–6.6 ft) long. Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorize that they were used for ballast or digestion. If the latter, stomach action would cause the stones to help grind ingested food.
Discoveryedit
Neck vertebrae
This genus of plesiosaur lived in North America, approximately 95 million years ago - this places it during the Cenomanian stage. Its closest relative is Elasmosaurus, and both belong to the family Elasmosauridae. There are six specimens of varying states of preservation on display at various museums in the United States.
^O'Gorman, J.P. (2016). "A Small Body Sized Non-Aristonectine Elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia with Comments on the Relationships of the Patagonian and Antarctic Elasmosaurids". Ameghiniana. 53 (3): 245–268. doi:10.5710/AMGH.29.11.2015.2928. S2CID 133139689.
^O'Gorman, J.P.; Santillana, S.; Otero, R.; Reguero, M. (2019-10-01). "A giant elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia; Plesiosauria) from Antarctica: New information on elasmosaurid body size diversity and aristonectine evolutionary scenarios". Cretaceous Research. 102: 37–58. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.05.004. ISSN 0195-6671. S2CID 181725020.
^Smith, Elliott Armour. (2020). "Revision of the Genus Styxosaurus and Relationships of the Late Cretaceous Elasmosaurids (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) of the Western Interior Seaway". Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1335. https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1335
^Carpenter, K. (1999). "Revision of North American elasmosaurs from the Cretaceous western interior." Paludicola, 2(2): 148-173.
External linksedit
The skeleton
About plesiosaurs
More of the skeleton
November 23, 2023
thalassomedon, from, greek, thalassa, greek, medon, lord, ruler, meaning, lord, genus, plesiosaur, named, welles, 1943, temporal, range, late, cretaceous, preꞒ, mounted, cast, type, specimen, american, museum, natural, historyscientific, classificationdomain, . Thalassomedon from Greek thalassa sea and Greek medon lord or ruler meaning sea lord is a genus of plesiosaur named by Welles in 1943 ThalassomedonTemporal range Late Cretaceous 95 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Mounted cast of the type specimen American Museum of Natural HistoryScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaSuperorder SauropterygiaOrder PlesiosauriaFamily ElasmosauridaeGenus ThalassomedonWelles 1943Species T haningtoniBinomial name Thalassomedon haningtoniWelles 1943SynonymsAlzadasaurus riggsi Welles 1943 Contents 1 Description 2 Discovery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription edit nbsp RestorationThalassomedon is among the largest elasmosaurids with the holotype measuring 10 86 metres 35 6 ft long and weighing more than 4 44 metric tons 4 89 short tons 1 2 There is a larger skull however suggesting a much larger animal potentially up to 11 6 metres 38 ft 3 The neck is also very long it comprises 62 vertebrae 4 and is about 5 9 metres 19 ft over half of the total length The skull is 47 centimetres 19 in 1 54 ft long with 5 centimetres 2 0 in long teeth The flippers were about 1 5 2 metres 4 9 6 6 ft long Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorize that they were used for ballast or digestion If the latter stomach action would cause the stones to help grind ingested food Discovery edit nbsp Neck vertebraeThis genus of plesiosaur lived in North America approximately 95 million years ago this places it during the Cenomanian stage Its closest relative is Elasmosaurus and both belong to the family Elasmosauridae There are six specimens of varying states of preservation on display at various museums in the United States See also edit nbsp Paleontology portalList of plesiosaur genera Timeline of plesiosaur researchReferences edit O Gorman J P 2016 A Small Body Sized Non Aristonectine Elasmosaurid Sauropterygia Plesiosauria from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia with Comments on the Relationships of the Patagonian and Antarctic Elasmosaurids Ameghiniana 53 3 245 268 doi 10 5710 AMGH 29 11 2015 2928 S2CID 133139689 O Gorman J P Santillana S Otero R Reguero M 2019 10 01 A giant elasmosaurid Sauropterygia Plesiosauria from Antarctica New information on elasmosaurid body size diversity and aristonectine evolutionary scenarios Cretaceous Research 102 37 58 doi 10 1016 j cretres 2019 05 004 ISSN 0195 6671 S2CID 181725020 Smith Elliott Armour 2020 Revision of the Genus Styxosaurus and Relationships of the Late Cretaceous Elasmosaurids Sauropterygia Plesiosauria of the Western Interior Seaway Theses Dissertations and Capstones 1335 https mds marshall edu etd 1335 Carpenter K 1999 Revision of North American elasmosaurs from the Cretaceous western interior Paludicola 2 2 148 173 External links editThe skeleton About plesiosaurs More of the skeleton Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thalassomedon amp oldid 1134109635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
