Neptunidraco

Nep-teu-ne-dray-ko.
By Lilah Turner
Published on

Lilah Turner

Evolutionary Biologist

Lilah Turner investigates how prehistoric animals adapted to changing environments, offering insights into evolution's mechanisms.

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Turner, L. (2012, April 17). Neptunidraco. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/neptunidraco/

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Name

Neptunidraco ‭(‬Neptune’s dragon‭)‬.

Phonetic

Nep-teu-ne-dray-ko.

Named By

A.‭ ‬Cau‭ & ‬F.‭ ‬Fanti‭ ‬-‭ ‬2011.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Crocodylomorpha,‭ ‬Thalattosuchia,‭ ‬Metriorhynchidae,‭ ‬Geosaurinae.

Diet

Piscivore/Carnivore.

Species

N.‭ ‬ammoniticus‭

Size

‭R‬oughly about‭ ‬4‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Italy‭ ‬-‭ ‬Rosso Ammonitico Veronese Formation.

Time Period

Bajocian of the Jurassic.

Fossil representation

Partial skull and lower jaws.‭ ‬Total remains from at least three individuals known.

In Depth

       Neptunidraco is a genus of medium sized metriorhynchid crocodile that has a noted similarity to the genus Geosaurus.‭ ‬Like with other metriorhynchid crocodiles,‭ ‬Neptunidraco was adapted for a life living and hunting at sea where it was a predator of fish as well as‭ ‬probably‭ ‬other smaller reptilian marine organisms.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬The oldest known metriorhynchid crocodylian from the Middle Jurassic of North-eastern Italy:‭ ‬Neptunidraco ammoniticus gen.‭ ‬et sp.‭ ‬nov.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Gondwana Research‭ ‬19:550-565.‭ ‬-‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Cau‭ & ‬F.‭ ‬Fanti‭ ‬-‭ ‬2011.

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