pliosaur
Ancient ocean hunter
A pliosaur is a large marine reptile from the Mesozoic era, related to plesiosaurs but with a shorter neck and massive elongated head.
These apex predators had powerful jaws and paddle-like limbs, reaching lengths of 40 feet or more.
The group includes some of the largest predators ever to inhabit the oceans.
Massive saltwater body
- seaSaltwater body, not ocean
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- underwaterBelow the surface
flippers · streamlined · diving · currents · open water · seabed · marine predator · ocean depths
Foot-worn swim aids
- skullHead's bone casing
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
short-necked · robust · vertebrae · nostrils · tail · pectoral · pelvic
Uppermost point or culmination
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- bite forceJaw clamping pressure
hunt · prey · ambush · deadly · powerful · dominant · fearsome · attack
Dinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- plesiosaursPrehistoric marine reptiles
- ichthyosaursExtinct marine reptiles
mosasaurs · dinosaurs · ammonites · Gondwana · Pangaea · Tethys · extinction · marine reptiles
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- specimenIndividual for examination
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- fossilizationOrganic remains becoming mineral
sediment · stratigraphy · geology · Svalbard · Dorset · museum · reconstruction · vertebrae
ocean
Massive saltwater body
underwater · flippers · streamlined · diving · currents · open water · seabed · marine predator · ocean depths · swimming
flippers
Foot-worn swim aids
streamlined · short-necked · robust · vertebrae · nostrils · tail · pectoral · pelvic
apex
Uppermost point or culmination
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- jawsMouth's bony framework
bite force · hunt · prey · ambush · deadly · powerful · dominant · fearsome · attack · fish-eater
Jurassic
Dinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- plesiosaursPrehistoric marine reptiles
ichthyosaurs · mosasaurs · dinosaurs · ammonites · Gondwana · Pangaea · Tethys · extinction · marine reptiles · ancient oceans
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- specimenIndividual for examination
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
fossilization · sediment · stratigraphy · geology · Svalbard · Dorset · museum · reconstruction · vertebrae · skull
pliosaurdinosaur
Extinct Mesozoic reptile
theropod · sauropod · Tyrannosaurus rex · Velociraptor · pterosaur