Hauffiosaurus was a genus of plesiosaur which lived around England and Germany during the early Jurassic Period. There are currently three known species: H. zanoni, H. tomistomimus, and H. longirostris. Of these, Hauffiosaurus longirostris was the largest, measuring almost 16 feet long. All three of these species date to the early part of the Toarcian Stage of the early Jurassic approximately 183-180 million years ago.

Hauffiosaurus was remarkable for its elongated narrow crocodile-like jaws filled with interlocking long teeth – perfect for grabbing fish or squid-like belemnites. Examination of its skeleton, and especially the bones in its skull, show that Hauffiosaurus was a primitive member of the plesiosaur family Pliosauridae, which included well-known Mesozoic marine behemoths like Pliosaurus, Kronosaurus, and Liopleurodon. The pliosaurs typically had short muscular necks and gigantic heads, but Hauffiosaurus was a basal member of this family and more closely resembled the pliosaurs’ long-neck plesiosaur cousins. 

Hauffiosaurus longirostris. © Jason R. Abdale (June 22, 2025).

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Categories: Paleontology, Uncategorized

Tags: art, Early Jurassic, England, Europe, Germany, Hauffiosaurus, Jurassic Period, Macroplata, marine, Mesozoic, paleo-art, paleontology, plesiosaur, pliosaur, Pliosauridae, Prehistoric, reptile