Kronosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KronosaurusTemporal range: Lower Cretaceous
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Kronosaurus
Longman, 1924
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Kronosaurus was a huge, meat-eating reptile that lived in the ocean a very long time ago. It was a type of pliosaur, which are known for their short necks and powerful bodies. Imagine a giant lizard swimming in the sea! Its name means "lizard of Kronos", named after a powerful leader from Greek myths.
This amazing creature lived during the Early Cretaceous period. This was about 100 to 125 million years ago. Scientists have found Kronosaurus fossils in Australia and Colombia.
About Kronosaurus
Kronosaurus was one of the largest pliosaurs ever. It could grow to be about 9 to 10.9 meters (around 30 to 36 feet) long. That's longer than a school bus! It was also very heavy, weighing about 10.6 to 12.1 tonnes. That's like two large elephants!
What it Looked Like
Like other pliosaurs, Kronosaurus was a marine reptile. It had a long head and a short neck. Its body was stiff and strong. It used four large flippers to swim through the water. The back flippers were even bigger than the front ones. It also had a fairly short tail. Scientists believe Kronosaurus was a very fast and active swimmer.
What it Ate
Kronosaurus was a carnivore, meaning it ate other animals. It had many long, sharp, conical teeth. A special feature of Kronosaurus was that its first three upper teeth were extra large. They were like huge fangs!
Scientists have found fossilized stomach contents from Kronosaurus in Australia. These show that it hunted and ate turtles. It also preyed on other plesiosaurs, which were different types of marine reptiles.
Where it Lived
Fossils of Kronosaurus have been found in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. They have also been found in Boyacá, Colombia. When Kronosaurus lived, these areas were covered by shallow inland seas. These were perfect hunting grounds for this giant marine reptile.
Images for kids
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K. queenslandicus at Harvard University which may have been reconstructed with too many vertebrae
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Restoration of K. queenslandicus
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Assigned specimen in Kronosaurus Korner museum, Queensland
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Life restoration of K. queenslandicus preying on Woolungasaurus
See also
In Spanish: Kronosaurus para niños
