Peloneustes

Peloneustes
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic
Skeletal mount
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Plesiosauria
Suborder: Pliosauroidea
Family: Pliosauridae
Genus: Peloneustes
Lydekker, 1889
Type species
Peloneustes philarchus
Seeley, 1869

Peloneustes (meaning 'mud swimmer') is an extinct genus of sauropterygian reptile belonging to the family Pliosauridae. It is known from the Callovian aged (Middle Jurassic) deposits of the Oxford clay formation of England. With a length of around 3 metres (9.8 ft), it was one of the smallest representatives of the group.

Restoration

Like its larger relatives, Peloneustes had a short neck and long jaws capable of grabbing large prey. Its streamlined body allowed it to chase fast prey such as belemnites. As it had fewer and blunter teeth than its relatives, it is thought to have mainly fed on hard prey such as ammonites.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 76. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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