The Colossal Marine Predator of the Jurassic Seas
Meet Pliosaurus, a fearsome apex predator of the Jurassic period, approximately 160 million years ago!
| Meaning | More lizard [Plio-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | PLY-oh-sore-us |
| When: | Late Jurassic (about 155–145 million years ago) |
| Where: | Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia) |
| What: | Pliosaur Pliosaur |
| Weight: | Estimated around 12–45 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 10–13 meters (33–43 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate fish, marine reptiles, and possibly other large prey) |
| Discovered: | First described by Richard Owen in 1841 |
Pliosaurus belonged to a group of marine reptiles called pliosaurs, known for their massive size and powerful jaws.
Pliosaurus had a streamlined body, short neck, and large, paddle-like flippers that propelled it through the ancient oceans with remarkable speed.
It had a skull that could reach up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in length, equipped with sharp, conical teeth up to 30 centimeters (1 foot) long!
These teeth were perfect for seizing and tearing apart prey, which likely included other marine reptiles, fish, and even large squid.
Imagine Pliosaurus hunting in the deep waters, its enormous jaws snapping shut on its unfortunate prey.