5.1 Plesiosaurus macrocephalus
This is a cast of the skull and mandible of a plesiosaur. The sauropterygian reptiles contain a variety of aquatic forms from the Mesozoic, including the plesiosaurs. The relationships of sauropterygians to other reptiles are still controversial, although many workers now believe that sauropterygians and lepidosaurs belong in the same clade (the Lepidosauromorpha).
Identify the major openings of the skull. Can you find the temporal openings and bars? Note the narrow and forwardly projecting teeth. What kind of food might this animal have eaten?
Can you find the external nostrils – these are typically retracted in plesiosaurs, reflecting their aquatic lifestyle.
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