Cryptoclidus
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 Cryptoclidus reconstruction in Oxford University Museum of Natural History
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Extinct (fossil)
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Cryptoclidus (crip-TOE-clide-us) (alternative spelling: "cryptocleidus") was a genus of marine reptiles, called plesiosaurs, from the Middle Jurassic Period of England.
It is estimated to have weighed about 8 tons and to have been about 8 metres (27 feet) long. Despite looking clumsy and cumbersome, in water it would have become a thing of grace, using all four limbs as paddles, to swim and to hunt the shoals of fish, crustaceans, and squid-like cephalopods. It has around 100 interlocking long sharp teeth, which are believed to be used to sift though mud on the floor to find creatures that might be hiding there. Known fossil evidence for this reptile is relatively poorly preserved, found mostly in England, Northern France, Russia, and South America.
[edit] In popular culture
Like many prehistoric creatures, Cryptoclidus was featured in the BBC television series Walking with Dinosaurs.
[edit] Gallery
 Side view |
 Another side view |
 Back view |
 Front view |
 Skull |
 From a distance |
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