Tuarangisaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tuarangisaurus |
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Tuarangisaurus
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keyesi
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Tuarangisaurus was an extinct marine reptile that lived a long, long time ago. Its name means "ancient lizard" in Maori and Greek. It was a type of elasmosaurid, which are known for their very long necks. Scientists have only found Tuarangisaurus fossils in New Zealand.
The only known species is Tuarangisaurus keyesi. It was named by scientists Joan Wiffen and Moisley in 1986.
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What Did Tuarangisaurus Look Like?
Tuarangisaurus was a big creature, about 8 metres (26 ft) (around 26 feet) long. That's about the length of a school bus!
Scientists can tell Tuarangisaurus apart from other elasmosaurids because it had some special features. For example, it had a unique bone in its skull called an ectopterygoid with a long part pointing backward. It also had a large bony bump underneath.
Another interesting discovery was a small bone called a stapes in its ear. Scientists used to think that elasmosaurids didn't have this bone, so finding it in Tuarangisaurus was a big deal!
How Tuarangisaurus Was Discovered
The first Tuarangisaurus fossils were found in New Zealand. These included a nearly complete skull and lower mandible (jawbone). Scientists also found nine neck vertebrae (backbones) from the front part of its neck. Some bones from young Tuarangisaurus were also found.
These fossils came from a rock layer called the Maungataniwha Sandstone Member. This rock dates back to the Late Cretaceous period. This means Tuarangisaurus lived about 78 million years ago.
At one point, scientists thought there might be other species of Tuarangisaurus. However, after more study, these other species were moved to different groups of ancient reptiles. So, Tuarangisaurus keyesi is the only species we know of today.
Tuarangisaurus in the Family Tree
When Tuarangisaurus was first discovered, scientists knew it belonged to the Elasmosauridae family. This family includes many long-necked marine reptiles.
Later studies helped scientists understand its place even better. They confirmed that Tuarangisaurus was indeed an elasmosaurid. It is related to other famous elasmosaurids like Elasmosaurus and Thalassomedon. These animals were all part of a large group of marine reptiles that swam in the ancient oceans.
See also
In Spanish: Tuarangisaurus para niños
