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Plesiosaurs
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| 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 Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Sarah L. Thomson
Charlesbridge
Released: July 18th, 2017
Multicolor Hardcover (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $12.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ancient Animals: Plesiosaur- Manufacturer: Charlesbridge
- Brand: Charlesbridge
- ISBN: 1580895425
- EAN: 9781580895422
- PartNumber: Illustrated
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Sarah L. Thomson
- Publication Date: July 18th, 2017
- Release Date: July 18th, 2017
Physical Description:- Size: 8.63 Inches by 6.31 Inches by 0.33 Inches
- Weight: 0.49383546688 Pounds
- Color: Multicolor
Click here for more information |
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By Daniel Loxton
Kids Can Press
Released: March 1st, 2014
Hardcover (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $16.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Plesiosaur Peril (Tales of Prehistoric Life)- Manufacturer: Kids Can Press
- Brand: Kids Can Press
- ISBN: 1554536332
- EAN: 9781554536337
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Picture Book
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Daniel Loxton
- Publication Date: March 1st, 2014
- Release Date: March 1st, 2014
Physical Description:- Size: 11.25 Inches by 8.75 Inches by 0.375 Inches
- Weight: 0.92 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Rex Stone
Scholastic Paperbacks
Released: November 1st, 2009
Mass Market Paperback (80 pages)
 | Lowest Used Price: $5.98*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Swimming with the Plesiosaur (Dinosaur Cove)- Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
- Brand: Scholastic Paperbacks
- ISBN: 054511246X
- EAN: 9780545112468
- PartNumber: FBA-|279568
Details:- Product Category: Mass Market Paperback
- Number of Pages: 80
- Author: Rex Stone
- Publication Date: November 1st, 2009
- Release Date: November 1st, 2009
Physical Description:- Size: 7.75 Inches by 5.5 Inches by 0.25 Inches
- Weight: 0.14 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Zoë Lescaze
Taschen
Released: September 13th, 2017
Hardcover (292 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $100.00*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Paleoart. Visions of the Prehistoric Past- Manufacturer: TASCHEN
- Brand: Taschen
- ISBN: 3836555115
- EAN: 9783836555111
- PartNumber: Paisagem
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Download: Adobe Reader
- Edition: Presumed First Edition
- Number of Pages: 292
- Authors: Zoë Lescaze, Walton Ford
- Publication Date: September 13th, 2017
- Release Date: September 13th, 2017
Physical Description:- Size: 14.5 Inches by 11.0 Inches by 1.5 Inches
- Weight: 6.93125 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Richard Ellis
University Press of Kansas
Released: October 7th, 2003
Paperback (326 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $21.98*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Sea Dragons: Predators of the Prehistoric Oceans- Manufacturer: Univ Pr of Kansas
- Brand: University Press of Kansas
- ISBN: 0700613943
- EAN: 9780700613946
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: New edition
- Number of Pages: 326
- Author: Richard Ellis
- Publication Date: October 7th, 2003
- Release Date: October 7th, 2003
Physical Description:- Size: 9.02 Inches by 6.98 Inches by 0.81 Inches
- Weight: 1.36 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Leigh Rockwood
PowerKids Press
Released: August 15th, 2011
Paperback (24 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $8.25*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Plesiosaurus (Dinosaurs Ruled!)- Manufacturer: PowerKids Press
- Brand: PowerKids Press
- ISBN: 1448850908
- EAN: 9781448850907
- PartNumber: 43187-51506
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Leigh Rockwood
- Publication Date: August 15th, 2011
- Release Date: August 15th, 2011
Physical Description:- Size: 8.8 Inches by 8.6 Inches by 0.4 Inches
- Weight: 0.45 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Nick Falk
Random House Australia
Released: August 1st, 2014
Paperback (140 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $7.99*
Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
A Plesiosaur Broke My Bathtub (Saurus Street)- Manufacturer: Random House Australia
- ISBNs: 9780857981820, 085798182X
- EAN: 9780857981820
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 140
- Author: Nick Falk
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2014
- Release Date: August 1st, 2014
Physical Description:- Size: 7.75 Inches by 7.75 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.31746565728 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Spencer Lucas
Columbia University Press
Released: June 7th, 2016
Paperback (392 pages)
 | List Price: $90.00*
Lowest New Price: $72.10*
In Stock.*
*(As of 10:31 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Dinosaurs: The Textbook- Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
- Brand: Columbia University Press
- ISBNs: 0231173113, 9780231173117
- EAN: 9780231173117
- PartNumber: 9780231173117
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: sixth edition
- Number of Pages: 392
- Author: Spencer Lucas
- Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
- Release Date: June 7th, 2016
Physical Description:- Size: 0.9 Inches by 10.9 Inches by 8.3 Inches
- Weight: 2.05 Pounds
Features:- University Press Group Ltd
Click here for more information |
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