THE PREHISTORIC WORLD
Dinosaur habitats
Jurassic ocean
200 to 145 million years ago
Reptiles didn’t just live on land. Massive prehistoric
monsters ruled the Jurassic oceans as well
Oceanic predators
Plesiosaurs and Ichthyosaurs
were top predators
Plate movement continued to reshape the continents and widen
the oceans during the Jurassic period. The separation of the
northern and southern parts of the Pangaea supercontinent
continued into the Jurassic period, making the Tethys Ocean
considerably larger. This ran in an east-west direction, which had a
signifi cant effect on the ocean fl ora and fauna. As such, fossils found in
Western Australia were remarkably similar to those found on the
southern coast of England.
The oceans were a fi ercely fought-over battleground, w ith large
marine reptiles such as the Plesiosaurus dominating the shallower
waters. With its stock y torso, four large fl ippers, an extremely long neck
and a tiny skull fi lled with small teeth, the Plesiosaurus was an
accomplished predator of fi sh, squid and other relatively small,
fast-mov ing prey. Mov ing further out to sea, other
sauropter ygians, such as the Liopleurodon, ruled the waters.
This reptile reached lengths of up to 10 metres and boasted a
streamlined body that allowed it to soar through the water
using its four paddle-like limbs. It could devour sizeable
aquatic reptiles and large fi sh; in the survival of the
fi ttest, this creature was a very prolifi c predator.Smaller creatures like fi sh and
molluscs were everywhere. They
made easy meals for bigger beasts
like reptiles, sharks and whalesPlenty of food