Dolichosaurus

Dolichosaurus (meaning "long lizard") is an extinct genus of marine squamate of the Upper Cretaceous Cenomanian chalk deposits of England. Sister-group relationships between coniasaurs, dolichosaurs, Aigialosauridae and Mosasauridae are an unresolved polytomy. The paleobiology of Dolichosaurus is reconstructed as similar to coniasaurs, nothosaurs, and modern sea snakes.[1] It was a small reptile measuring 0.5–1 m (1.6–3.3 ft) long.[2]

Dolichosaurus
Temporal range: Upper Cretaceous
Fossil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Dolichosauridae
Genus: Dolichosaurus
Owen, 1850
Species
  • D. longicollis Owen, 1850 (type)

References

  1. Michael W. Caldwell. On the aquatic squamate Dolichosaurus longicollis Owen, 1850 (Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous), and the evolution of elongate necks in squamates. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(4):720-735. 2000. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0720:OTASDL]2.0.CO;2
  2. Bardet, Nathalie (2008). "The Cenomanian-Turonian (late Cretaceous) radiation of marine squamates (Reptilia): the role of the Mediterranean Tethys". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 179 (6): 605–623. doi:10.2113/gssgfbull.179.6.605.


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