Nannopterygius, meaning “tiny fin”, was a genus of ichthyosaur which lived around Europe from the late Jurassic to the early Cretaceous Period approximately 152-140 million years ago. There are currently six species assigned to this genus: Nannopterygius saveljeviensis. © Jason… Read More ›
Brachypterygius, meaning “short fin”, was an ichthyosaur which lived around England during the late Jurassic Period 155-150 million years ago. Fossils of this animal were found at Smallmouth Sands near the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset, England within the rock… Read More ›
Undorosaurus was a medium-sized ichthyosaur which lived in northern Europe during the late Jurassic Period 150-145 million years ago. Fossils of this animal have been found in Norway, Poland, and western Russia. In fact, it was named after the village… Read More ›
Onchopristis was a 4 meter (13 foot) long sawfish which lived during the middle Cretaceous Period approximately 105-95 million years ago. Onchopristis belonged to the sub-order Sclerorhynchoidei of the order Rajiformes, “ray-shaped”. Despite a superficial resemblance to a modern-day sawfish,… Read More ›
There are many iconic predators of the Seven Seas: the Great White Shark, the Killer Whale, the Giant Squid, and others. In prehistoric times, the list of “epic marine killers” was much longer. One of those who definitely deserves a… Read More ›
Cladocyclus was a 4 foot long saltwater fish which lived around South America and Australia during the middle Cretaceous Period 110-100 million years ago. The famous Swiss ichthyologist Louis Agassiz coined the name Cladocyclus in 1841. The name, which means… Read More ›
Polyptychodon was a 23 foot long pliosaur which lived around North America, South America, and Europe during the middle Cretaceous Period 100-90 million years ago. The name Polyptychodon means “many-folded tooth” and refers to the ribbed surface on the teeth’s… Read More ›
Asteracanthus was a 6 foot long hybodont shark which lived from the middle Jurassic Period to the middle Cretaceous Period 165-100 million years ago. Unlike most prehistoric sharks which are known only from teeth, Asteracanthus is also known from some… Read More ›
Plesiosuchus was a 20 foot long marine crocodylomorph which lived in the tropical sea which once covered Europe during the late Jurassic Period 155-150 million years ago. In the 1860s, fragmentary fossils were discovered in Dorset, England by a local… Read More ›
Caypullisaurus was a 20 foot long ichthyosaur which lived off the coast of Argentina (and possibly elsewhere) during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous Periods 150-140 million years ago. In 1989, the front half of a skeleton of a medium-sized… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 