Dinocephalosaurus
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| Dinocephalosaurus Fossil range: Middle Triassic |
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 life restoration of Dinocephalosaurus orientalis
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Dinocephalosaurus is a genus of fanged reptile that inhabited the Triassic seas. Its name means "terrible headed lizard from the Orient". It is known from a single specimen found in 2002 from Southeastern China and described in Science in September 2004.[1] [2]
Dinocephalosaurus was 2.7 meters long, 1.7 meters of which was neck and head. It was an excellent predator. It may have actually "sucked" its prey like a vacuum cleaner. It had a wide throat patch and combined with the strong jaw muscles, this creature could have sucked fish, squid, and other creatures into its gaping mouth. Its neck could expand at will,[citation needed] and the creature was practically invisible in murky waters.
[edit] References
- ^ Li, C. (2003) "First record of protorosaurid reptile (Order Protorosauria) from the Middle Triassic of China", Acta Geologica Sinica, v. 77, n. 4, p. 419-423.
- ^ Li,C., Rieppel, O.,LaBarbera, M.C. (2004) "A Triassic Aquatic Protorosaur with an Extremely Long Neck ", Science 24 September 2004, 305 (5692) p. 1931 DOI: 10.1126/science.1100498
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