Pontosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pontosaurus |
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| Pontosaurus kornhuberi fossil | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | †Dolichosauridae |
| Genus: | †Pontosaurus Gorjanovic-Kramberger, 1892 |
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Pontosaurus was an ancient reptile that lived a very long time ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. This was a time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, about 100 to 66 million years ago! Pontosaurus is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists today. It was a type of pythonomorph, which were a group of marine (ocean-dwelling) reptiles.
What Was Pontosaurus?
Pontosaurus was a genus, or a group, of ancient reptiles. Scientists have found fossils of two different species of Pontosaurus. These two species are Pontosaurus lesinensis and Pontosaurus kornhuberi. They both lived during a part of the Late Cretaceous period called the Cenomanian age.
Where Did Pontosaurus Live?
The fossils of Pontosaurus have been found in different parts of the world.
- Pontosaurus lesinensis, which is the main species of Pontosaurus, was discovered in Hvar, a place in Croatia.
- The other species, Pontosaurus kornhuberi, was found in the Sannine Formation in Lebanon. These places tell us where these ancient reptiles once swam.
Why Did Its Name Change?
When Pontosaurus was first discovered, scientists gave it the name Hydrosaurus. However, they later found out that the name Hydrosaurus was already being used for another animal. This other animal was a type of lizard called an agamid lizard. In biology, you can't have two different animals with the exact same scientific name. So, to avoid confusion, the ancient reptile was given a new name: Pontosaurus.
