Thalassomedon

Taxobox
name = "Thalassomedon"
fossil_range = Late Cretaceous

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Sauropterygia
ordo = Plesiosauria
subordo = Plesiosauroidea
familia = Elasmosauridae
genus = "Thalassomedon"
genus_authority = Welles, 1943
binomial = "Thalassomedon haningtoni"

"Thalassomedon" is a genus of plesiosaur, named by Welles in 1943. Greek, "thalassa", "sea", and Greek, "medon", "lord, ruler": Sea lord.

Introduction

This genus of plesiosaur occurred in North America about 95 Mya. It occurs in the Cenomanian strata of the Late Cretaceous rock. Its closest relative is the "Elasmosaurus", and together they make up the family Elasmosauridae. There are six specimens of varying state of preservation on display at various U.S. museums.

Anatomy

With a length of 12 meters (40 ft), the neck comprises 63 vertebrae about 6 meters (20 ft) or half the creature. Skull is 47 centimeters (18.7 in) long, with 5 cm (2 in) teeth. The flippers were about 1.5-2 meters (5-7 ft) long. Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorise that they were used for ballast or digestion: when the stones are moved by stomach action, the food is ground up.

References

* [http://www.infohub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4065 Neal Robbins referenced on 8 February 2006]

Links

* [http://www.oceansofkansas.com/Plesiosaurs/denver1.jpgThe skeleton]
* [http://www.oceansofkansas.com/plesiosaur.html About plesiosaurs]
* [http://www.oceansofkansas.com/denver.html More of the skeleton]