Thalassomedon


Thalassomedon is a genus of plesiosaur, named by Samuel [Paul Welles|Welles] in 1943.

Description

Thalassomedon is among the largest elasmosaurids, with the holotype measuring long and weighing more than. There is a larger skull, however, suggesting a much larger animal, potentially up to. The neck is also very long; it comprises 62 vertebrae and is about - over half of the total length. The skull is long, with long teeth. The flippers were about long. Stones have been found in its stomach area leading some to theorize that they were used for ballast or digestion. If the latter, stomach action would cause the stones to help grind ingested food.

Discovery

This genus of plesiosaur lived in North America, approximately 95 million years ago - this places it during the Cenomanian stage. Its closest relative is Elasmosaurus, and both belong to the family Elasmosauridae. There are six specimens of varying states of preservation on display at various museums in the United States.