Yuzhoupliosaurus
Name:
Yuzhoupliosaurus
(Yuzhou pliosaurus).
Phonetic: Yu-zoo-ply-oh-sore-us.
Named By: Y. Zhang - 1985.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria, Rhomaleosauridae.
Species: Y. chengjiangensis
(type).
Diet: Piscivore/carnivore.
Size: 4 meters long.
Known locations: China.
Time period: Mid Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Mandible (lower jaw) and
partial post cranial remains including cervical (neck) vertebrae
and ribs and elements of the shoulder girdle.
Yuzhoupliosaurus
was an interesting find as it was the first rhomaleosaurid pliosaur
to
be discovered outside of Europe. Rhomaleosaurids like
Yuzhoupliosaurus were long necked pliosaurs that
looked somewhere
between the plesiosaurs like Plesiosaurus,
and the shorter necked,
large skulled forms like Simolestes
and Liopleurodon.
Yuzhoupliosaurus itself would have likely been a
predator of fish and
possibly other small vertebrates which it could catch with the pointed
teeth in its mouth before swallowing them whole.
Yuzhoupliosaurus
was named after the ancient city of Yuzhou which today is known as
Chungking (also sometimes spelled Changquin). Other members of
the rhomaleosuridae that Yuzhoupliosaurus is
similar to are
Macroplata,
Maresaurus,
Meyerasaurus
and of course the type genus
Rhomaleosaurus.
Further reading
- A new plesiosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Sichuan Basin. -
Vertebrata PalAsiatica 23(3):235-240. - Y. Zhang - 1985.
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