Thalattosauria

Not to be confused with Thalattosuchia.
Thalattosauria
Temporal range: Middle-Late Triassic, Anisian–Rhaetian
A collage of thalattosaur fossils. Clockwise from upper left: Askeptosaurus italicus (an askeptosauroid), Endennasaurus acutirostris (an askeptosauroid), Gunakadeit joseeae (a thalattosauroid), Thalattosaurus alexandrae (a thalattosauroid)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Neodiapsida
Order: †Thalattosauria
Merriam, 1904
Superfamilies
Synonyms

Thalattosauria (Greek for "sea lizards") is an extinct order of marine reptiles that lived in the Middle to Late Triassic. Thalattosaurs were diverse in size and shape, and are divided into two superfamilies: Askeptosauroidea and Thalattosauroidea. Askeptosauroids were endemic to the Tethys Ocean, their fossils have been found in Europe and China, and they were likely semiaquatic fish eaters with straight snouts and decent terrestrial abilities.[1] Thalattosauroids were more specialized for aquatic life and most had unusual downturned snouts and crushing dentition. Thalattosauroids lived along the coasts of both Panthalassa and the Tethys Ocean, and were most diverse in China and western North America.[2] The largest species of thalattosaurs grew to over 4 meters (13 feet) in length, including a long, flattened tail utilized in underwater propulsion. Although thalattosaurs bore a superficial resemblance to lizards, their exact relationships are unresolved. They are widely accepted as diapsids, but experts have variously placed them on the reptile family tree among Lepidosauromorpha (squamates, rhynchocephalians and their relatives),[3][4] Archosauromorpha (archosaurs and their relatives),[5] ichthyosaurs,[6] and/or other marine reptiles.[7][8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MJ05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Druckenmiller2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MJC05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).