Dakosaurus
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| iDakosaurus |
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Dakosaurus | |
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| Type | marine crocodylian |
| Length | 6 m |
| Movement | swimming |
| Diet | carnivore |
| Environment | ocean |
| Distribution | England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Argentina |
Dakosaurus was a genus within Metriorhynchidae that was large in size, with lateromedially compressed and serrated teeth. Dakosaurus was a carnivore that spent much, if not all, its life out at sea. No Dakosaurus eggs or nest have been discovered, so little is known of the reptile's lifecycle, unlike other large marine reptiles of the Mesozoic, such as plesiosaurs or ichthyosaurs which are known to give birth to live young out at sea. Where Dakosaurus mated, whether on land or at sea, is currently unknown.
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[edit] Species
The species within Dakosaurus include : the type species Dakosaurus maximus from Western Europe of the Late Jurassic , Dakosaurus andiniensis from Argentina of the End Jurassic-Beginning Cretaceous and Dakosaurus lapparenti from France of the Early Cretaceous.
[edit] Size and form
With all currently known species being approximately six metres or so in length, Dakosaurus is when compared to living crocodilians large-sized. Its body was streamlined for greater hydrodynamic swimming, which along with finned tail made it a more efficient swimmer than modern crocodilian species.
[edit] Closely related species
Other genera included in this within the metriorhynchid family are: Teleidosaurus, Metriorhynchus, Geosaurus and Enaliosuchus. The genera within Metiorhynchidae considered nomen dubium are Aggiosaurus and Neustosaurus.
[edit] Geological Ages
Dakosaurus is known from the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian of the Late Jurassic, and from the Berriasian, Valanginian and Hauterivian of the Early Cretaceous.
[edit] References
- Gasparini, Z., Pol, D. & Spalletti, L.A. (2006). An unusual marine crocodyliform from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary of Patagonia. Science 311: 70-73
