Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
534 / Mesozoic
Thalattosaurus
Thalattosaurus alexandrae
A long tail, paddle-like limbs and downturned snout marked a vanished marine-reptile branch.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 235–208 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Triassic
- Geographic range
- Pacific nearshore reefs · Western North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Thalattosaurus?
Thalattosaurus (Thalattosaurus alexandrae) was an extinct organism known from About 235–208 million years ago, with a range in Pacific nearshore reefs · Western North America.
Life and ecology
It swam among reefs and ate fish, cephalopods and hard-shelled prey.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Thalattosaurus disappear?
Thalattosaurs as a group did not survive into the Jurassic, but the record of this genus does not establish that it lasted until the end-Triassic crisis.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Thalattosaurus?
Near-complete skeletons preserve the snout, teeth and tail; diets differed among species.
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?
- Removed an extinction cause that credited a mass extinction occurring after this species' last dated record.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS