- Temnodontosaurus
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Temnodontosaurus
Temporal range: Early JurassicMounted fossil of Temnodontosaurus trigonodon, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Subclass: Diapsida Order: Ichthyopterygia Suborder: Ichthyosauria Family: Temnodontosauridae Genus: Temnodontosaurus
Lydekker, 1889Species - T. platyodon type species
- T. eurycephalus
- T. nuertingensis
- T. trigonodon
- T. acutirostris
Temnodontosaurus was an ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic, some 198 and 185 million years ago (Hettangian - Toarcian), in Europe (England & Germany). It was a large genus, exceeded 12 meters (40 ft) in length.[1]
It is the only genus in the family temnodontosauridae.[2]
Palaeobiology
Temnodontosaurus eyes were approximately 20 cm (8 in) in diameter making them some of the largest of any known vertebrate. They were powerful swimmers with great stamina and could descend into the deepest areas in the Jurassic sea to catch their prey.
References
- ^ Maisch MW, Matzke AT. 2000. The Ichthyosauria. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie B (Geologie und Paläontologie) 298: 1-159
- ^ HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF THE CLASS EODIAPSIDA. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
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