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Plesiosaurs
Click here for more Plesiosaur Pictures
| Scientific Classification |
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Plesiosaurs were a group of aquatic reptiles that lived in both
marine and freshwater environments.
They evolved during the
early Jurassic period
or late Triassic period,
from Nothosaurs,
and went extinct during the
Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction.
Plesiosaurs had a broad body, short tail, and four limb flippers. The term "Plesiosaur"
includes the so-called "true Plesiosaurs", which had a long necks, and the
Pliosaurs which had shorter
necks and a larger head. Plesiosaurs varied greatly in size, the adults varying between
10 feet (3 meters) and 66 feet (20 meters) in length, depending on the particular species.
Perhaps the most remarkable are the
family of Plesiosaurs known as "Elasmosauridae", which includes species such
as
Elasmosaurus and
Thalassomedon, who had necks that made up half or more of the length of the creature.
Plesiosaurs are often drawn with their necks positioned upwards
in a swan-like posture. However, this is now thought to be unlikely to be an accurate depiction
- it is thought they necks were probably not flexible enough to
do this, and, in any case, such a posture would probably have tipped them over.
In life, Plesiosaurs are believed to have been the top ("apex") predators of the oceans.
It is thought perhaps they swam slowly below the surface of the water, and then used their
long necks to position to snap up fish or cephalopods. Stones have been found in
the stomach area of some Plesiosaurs (including Thalassomedon), and it is thought perhaps
that these were used as ballast and/or as an aid to digestion (similar to gizzard stones
in modern birds being used to grind up food).
The first recorded Plesiosaur fossils
were found in England - these
include a partial skeleton found by Stukely in Nottinghamshire in 1719,
and others found by
Mary Anning.
As a result of this, an impressive collection of Plesiosaur
fossils are now found in
the
Natural History Museum
and
London.
A number of alleged lake monsters (animals supposedly living in freshwater lakes) are
sometimes claimed to be living Plesiosaurs.
These include
Champ which supposedly lives in Lake Champlain in the
United States,
Ogopogo which supposedly lives in Lake Okanagan in
Canada,
and most famously of all,
Nessie which supposedly lives in Loch Ness in
Scotland.
Mainstream scientists are generally skeptical of these claims
for a variety of reasons including lack of physical evidence,
the lakes are generally too small to support a viable breeding population,
the lakes are often too cold, and
bodies of dead animals have not been found. Cryptozoologists
(people who search for rumored or mythical creatures whose existence is uncertain),
and of course tourists to these areas, however continue to look for these creatures.
Plesiosaurs were marine reptiles that lived between 228 and 65 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Plesiosaur Pictures and Posters
by AllPosters
Here are some Plesiosaur pictures and posters:
(Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by AllPosters. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website).
Plesiosaur Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Rex Stone
Scholastic Paperbacks
Mass Market Paperback (80 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $4.99*
Lowest New Price: $1.78*
Lowest Used Price: $1.72*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 21:31 Pacific 2 Sep 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - ISBN13: 9780545112468
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Product Description:
Tom and Jamie can't believe their luck when they find a secret entrance to a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs! They vow to have a new adventure every day. Loaded with snorkeling gear, the boys decide to explore the cove itself. They have fun with the dolphin-like ichthyosaurs in the bay, and even tempt Wanna out into the water. But there are some not-so-friendly creatures lurking, including a hungry plesiosaur that wants a snack! Can the boys save their dinosaur friends-and themselves-from the deadliest creature in the prehistoric ocean? |
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By Oliver C. 1864-1933 Farrington
Nabu Press
Paperback (208 pages)
 | List Price: $24.75*
Lowest New Price: $17.99*
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Click Here | Product Description:
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. |
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By Karen Miller
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Released: 2007-03-29
Hardcover (96 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $17.95*
Lowest New Price: $4.85*
Lowest Used Price: $2.18*
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Click Here | - ISBN13: 9780805079029
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Product Description:
Mythical beasts or real creatures? You decide!
Big Foot, Moth Man, the Sea Serpent of Gloucester. These are just a few of the mythical beasts uncovered in this intriguing collection of extraordinary creatures. Firsthand accounts and the opinions of scientists weave together a fascinating web of fact and legend. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, you’ll find much to ponder in the lore surrounding these monsters. |
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Books LLC
Paperback (24 pages)
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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006, Sea Monsters: a Prehistoric Adventure, Beyond Loch Ness, Coo: Tōi Umi Kara Kita Coo, Legend of Dinosaurs |
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By Edwin H Colbert
Amer Mus Nat Hist
Paperback
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By David Hawcock
Henry Holth & Co (J)
Hardcover (1 pages; 1)
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Asks questions about the plesiosaurus, such as how did it breathe; provides answers under flaps; and concludes with a fold-out image of this prehistoric reptile. |
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By F. R. and Wahl, W. R. O'Keete
Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology
Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $7.00*
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By F. R. and Wahl, W. R. O'Keete
Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology
Paperback
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By David with Sadie Fields Hawcock
Tango Books
Paperback
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By R. L. CARROLL
Royal Society
Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $22.00*
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Click Here |
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