Libonectes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LibonectesTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous
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| Libonectes morgani from the Late Cretaceous of Texas | |
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Elasmosauridae
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Libonectes
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Libonectes was a type of plesiosaur, which were large marine reptiles that lived in the oceans long ago. It was a relative of the famous Elasmosaurus. This amazing creature swam the seas about 80 to 65 million years ago, during the Upper Cretaceous period.
Libonectes could grow quite large, reaching up to 12 metres (about 40 feet) in length. That's longer than a school bus! It was a predator, meaning it hunted other animals for food. Its diet mainly consisted of small fish. These fish, in turn, ate tiny organisms called plankton that floated in the upper parts of the ocean, known as the pelagic zone.
What was Libonectes?
Libonectes was a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur. Elasmosaurids were known for their incredibly long necks. While we don't have a complete skeleton of Libonectes, scientists have studied its fossils to learn about it. The most important fossil found is a skull, which helps us understand what its head looked like and how it might have hunted.
Where did Libonectes live?
Fossils of Libonectes have been found in North America, specifically in Texas, United States. This tells us that it lived in the ancient seas that covered parts of North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The world was a very different place back then, with different continents and sea levels.
How did Libonectes hunt?
As a predator, Libonectes likely used its long neck and powerful jaws to catch its prey. Its teeth were probably sharp and pointed, perfect for grabbing slippery fish. Imagine a creature with a long, snake-like neck darting through the water to snatch fish! It would have been an impressive sight.
Images for kids
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Holotype skull of Libonectes morgani
