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324 / Mesozoic
Metoposaurus
Metoposaurus diagnosticus
A broad flat head occupied nearly the full width of its front body.
- Time range
- About 227–215 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Triassic
- Geographic range
- Seasonal rivers and lakes · Europe
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Metoposaurus?
Metoposaurus (Metoposaurus diagnosticus) was an extinct organism known from About 227–215 million years ago, with a range in Seasonal rivers and lakes · Europe.
Life and ecology
This giant amphibian ambushed fish and small vertebrates in seasonal water bodies.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Metoposaurus disappear?
Drying climates and ecological turnover caused its disappearance.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Metoposaurus?
Bonebeds, skulls and limbs record age, trauma and mass mortality.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS