- Macroplata
Taxobox
name = "Macroplata"
fossil_range =Early Jurassic
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Macroplata tenuiceps" from the Early Jurassic of Europe
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo =Plesiosauria
subordo =Pliosaur oidea
familia =Rhomaleosauridae
genus = "Macroplata"
species = "M. tenuiceps"
binomial = "Macroplata tenuiceps"
binomial_authority = Swinton, 1930"Macroplata" (mack-roh-PLAH-tah) is an
extinct genus of EarlyJurassic pliosaur , which grew up to 5 meters (15 ft) in length. Like other pliosaurs, "Macroplata" probably lived on a diet of fish, using its sharp needle-like teeth to catch prey. Its shoulder bones were fairly large, indicating a powerful forward stroke for fast swimming. "Macroplata" also had a relatively long neck, twice the length of the skull, in contrast to later pliosaurs.Two species are currently included in this genus: "Macroplata tenuiceps", the
type species , which lived during theHettangian age (earliest Jurassic), and "Macroplata longirostris", which lived somewhat later, during theToarcian . However, it is thought that "M. longirostris" may be a distinct form which should be placed in a separate genus Fact|date=May 2008.External links
* [http://www.plesiosauria.com/macroplata.html Macroplata] - the Plesiosaur Directory
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