How It Works-Book Of Dinosaurs

© Thin k stock; SPL; Gett y

Learn how this marine reptile obtained

oxygen in a world dominated by fish

How the beast breathed

1. Inhale
   Air is drawn in through the
   mouth when the creature
   emerges at the surface. It can’t
   absorb oxygen from the water
   2. Absorb
   Oxygen from the air drawn
   in through the mouth is
   extracted and deposited
   into the reptile’s lungs


2. Exhale
   Spent air then exits the
   reptile through its
   backward-set nostrils,
   which are positioned
   close to the eye sockets

We break down the skeletal structure

of this sauropterygian marine reptile

Plesiosaurus physiology

Limbs

Both the fore and hind

limbs resemble large,

sealion-like flippers, and

grant fast propulsion in

marine environments

Skull

The skull is relatively

short compared to other

Plesiosaurs. Nostrils are

located in a far-back

position near the eyes

Body

The stocky,

muscular body

grants power to the

large flippers and

supports its neck

Teeth

The Plesiosaurus sports

two racks of sharp teeth,

typically with 20-25 per

upper jaw row and 24

per lower jaw row

Neck

Plesiosaurus has

approximately 40 cervical

vertebrae in its long,

narrow neck. The neck’s

flexibility allows it to

capture super-agile fish

Tail

Unlike many other

marine reptiles, the

Plesiosaurus’s tail is very

short and stubby. It’s not

used for propulsion as

its bone construction

makes it very weak

Savage

Razor-sharp teeth can

pierce the flesh of prey

Agile

Long, flexible neck for

striking at speedy fish

DID YOU KNOW? (^) The name Plesiosaurus comes from the Greek for ‘near to lizard’