Thalassomedon haningtoni
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Thalassomedon haningtoni |
Thalassomedon haningtoni is a type of plesiosaur. It was named by Welles in 1943. Greek, thalassa, "sea", and Greek, medon, "lord, ruler": Sea lord.
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[edit] Introduction
This species of Plesiosaur occurred in North America about 95 Mya. It occurs in the Cenomanian strata of the Late Cretaceous rock. The closet relative is the Elasmosaurus, and together they make up the Elasmosauridea family. There are 6 specimens of varying state of preservation on display at various U.S. museums.
[edit] Anatomy
With a length of 12 meters (40 feet), the neck comprises 63 vertebrae about 6 meters (20 feet) or half the creature. Skull is of 47 cm (18.7 inches) with 5 cm (2 inch) teeth. Flippers of about 1.5-2 meters. Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorise that they were used for ballast or digestion, when the stones are moved by somach action, the food is ground up.
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