Macroplata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Macroplata
Fossil range: Early Jurassic

Macroplata tenuiceps from the Early Jurassic of Europe

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Plesiosauria
Suborder:	Pliosauroidea
Family:	Rhomaleosauridae
Genus:	Macroplata
Species:	M. tenuiceps

Binomial name

Macroplata tenuiceps
Swinton, 1930

Macroplata (mack-roh-PLAH-tah) is an extinct genus of Early Jurassic pliosaur, which grew up to 5 meters (15 ft) in length. Like other pliosaurs, Macroplata probably lived on a diet of fish, using its sharp needle-like teeth to catch prey. Its shoulder bones were fairly large, indicating a powerful forward stroke for fast swimming. Macroplata also had a relatively long neck, twice the length of the skull, in contrast to later pliosaurs.

Two species are currently included in this genus: Macroplata tenuiceps, the type species, which lived during the Hettangian age (earliest Jurassic), and Macroplata longirostris, which lived somewhat later, during the Toarcian. However, it is thought that M. longirostris may be a distinct form which should be placed in a separate genus^{[citation needed]}.