| Temnodontosaurus Temporal range: Early Jurassic |
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|---|---|
| Mounted fossil of Temnodontosaurus trigonodon, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Order: | Ichthyopterygia |
| Suborder: | Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | Temnodontosauridae |
| Genus: | Temnodontosaurus Lydekker, 1889 |
| Species | |
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Temnodontosaurus was an ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic, some 198 and 185 million years ago (Hettangian - Toarcian), in Europe (England & Germany). It was a large genus, exceeded 12 meters (40 ft) in length.[1]
It is the only genus in the family temnodontosauridae.[2]
Temnodontosaurus eyes were approximately 20 cm (8 in) in diameter making them some of the largest of any known vertebrate. They were powerful swimmers with great stamina and could descend into the deepest areas in the Jurassic sea to catch their prey.