- Prognathodon
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Prognathodon
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
Prognathodon solvayi Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Squamata Suborder: Scleroglossa Family: Mosasauridae Subfamily: Mosasaurinae Tribe: Globidensini Genus: Prognathodon Species - P. currii
- P. giganteus
- P. kianda (Schulp et al., 2008) [1]
- P. overtoni
- P. rapax
- P. saturator
- P. solvayi
- P. stadtmani
- P. waiparaensis
Prognathodon ('forejaw tooth') is an extinct genus of marine reptile belonging to the mosasaur family. It had protective bony rings surrounding its eye sockets, indicating it lived in deep water. its fossil remains have been found in the U.S.A (South Dakota and Colorado), Canada (Alberta), Belgium, New Zealand, Morocco and The Netherlands. Its teeth are similar to those of some Triassic placodonts so it may have lived a similar lifestyle, feeding on shellfish, large fish and sea turtles. A very large specimen found in Israel was for some time referred to as Oronosaurus, but is now regarded as a species of Prognathodon, P. currii. The recent discovery of 2 nearly complete fossils (one which included flippers) in Alberta, Canada have given scientists new data as previous fossils only contained the remains of the skull. One fossil included stomach contents. [2]
P. saturator skull
P. saturator
P. waiparensis
Prognathodon currii skull cast at the Geological Museum in CopenhagenReferences
- ^ Schulp, A. S., Polcyn, M. J., Mateus, O., Jacobs, L. L., and Morais, M. L., 2008, A new species of Prognathodon (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the Maastrichtian of Angola, and the affinities of the mosasaur genus Liodon: In: Proceedings of the Second Mosasaur Meeting, edited by Everhart, M. J, Fort Hays Studies, Special Issue number 3, p. 1-12.
- ^ http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1671/0272-4634%282002%29022%5B0629%3AANSOGM%5D2.0.CO%3B2
External links
- Ben Creisler: Mosasauridae Translation and Pronunciation Guide [1] Scroll down for Prognathodon
Mosasaur Halisaurinae Mosasaurinae Amphekepubis · Carinodens · Clidastes · Dallasaurus · Globidens · Liodon · Moanasaurus · Mosasaurus · Plesiotylosaurus · Plotosaurus · PrognathodonPlioplatecarpinae Angolasaurus · Ectenosaurus · Igdamanosaurus · Platecarpus · Plioplatecarpus · Selmasaurus · YaguarasaurusTylosaurinae Undetermined Related articles Related categories Mosasaurs · Cretaceous lizards · Marine reptilesThis article about a prehistoric lizard is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
