Thalassomedon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ThalassomedonTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous
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| Illustration of Thalassomedon | |
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Fossil
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Plesiosauroidea
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Elasmosauridae
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Thalassomedon
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| Thalassomedon haningtoni |
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Thalassomedon (say it: the-lass-a-med-in) means "lord of the seas." It was a huge swimming reptile that lived long, long ago. Even though it lived at the same time as dinosaurs, Thalassomedon was not a dinosaur! It was a type of plesiosaur, a group of marine reptiles that swam in the open ocean and breathed air, just like whales and dolphins today. Scientists have found its fossils in the USA. The first one was named Thalassomedon haningtoni by a scientist named Welles in 1943.
What Did Thalassomedon Look Like?
Thalassomedon was a very long creature, reaching about 40 feet (12 meters) in length. That's as long as a school bus! It had a skull about 18.7 inches (47 centimeters) long.
- Long Neck: Its neck was super long, with 63 bones (called vertebrae).
- Snout and Teeth: It had a long snout and sharp teeth, some as long as 2 inches (5 centimeters). These teeth were perfect for catching slippery fish.
- Flippers: Instead of legs, it had four powerful flippers. Each flipper was about 5 to 6.6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) long. These flippers helped it swim fast through the water.
- Short Tail: It had a short, pointed tail.
Did Thalassomedon Eat Stones?
Scientists have found stones in the stomach area of Thalassomedon fossils. They think these stones might have helped the creature in a few ways:
- Digestion: The stones could have helped grind up food in its stomach, like a bird uses grit.
- Buoyancy Control: They might have also acted like weights, helping Thalassomedon dive deeper or stay underwater more easily.
Images for kids
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A drawing of what Thalassomedon might have looked like.
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The bones (vertebrae) from Thalassomedon's long neck.
See also
In Spanish: Thalassomedon para niños
