Plesiosaurus Skull Replica

Description

Plesiosaurus skull replica measures 22.0 x 10.0 x 9.0 inches. Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus skull is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of Denver Museum of Nature and Science specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

Since then, more than a hundred valid species of Plesiosauria have been described. In the early twenty-first century, the number of discoveries has increased, leading to an improved understanding of their anatomy, relationships and way of life.

Plesiosaurus had a broad flat body and a short tail. Their limbs had evolved into four long flippers, which were powered by strong muscles attached to wide bony plates formed by the shoulder girdle and the pelvis.

The flippers made a flying movement through the water. Plesiosaurs breathed air, and bore live young; there are indications that they were warm-blooded.

Plesiosaurus showed two main morphological types. Some species, with the “plesiosauromorph” build, had (sometimes extremely) long necks and small heads; these were relatively slow and caught small sea animals.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Superorder: †Sauropterygia
• Order: †Plesiosauria
• Superfamily: †Plesiosauroidea
• Family: †Plesiosauridae
• Genus: †Plesiosaurus De la Beche and Conybeare, 1821
• Species: †P. dolichodeirus
• Binomial name: †Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus Conybeare, 1824
• Conservation status: Extinct

Contrast the intricate cranial anatomy and specialized dentition of the Plesiosaurus skull with the complete postcranial articulation of the Ichthyosaur skeleton panel, illustrating two distinct evolutionary solutions for high-performance hunting in the Mesozoic oceans.

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