Pachypleurosaurus

The type genus of the Pachypleurosauria,‭ ‬Pachypleurosaurus would have been a relative of the more famous nothosaurs,‭ ‬yet still be distinct enough to not be classed as a nothosaurine.‭ ‬It should be remembered however that both nothosaurines and pachypleurosaurines are still both classified as nothosauroids due to their physical similarities.
       The name Pachypleurosaurus means‭ ‘‬thick rib lizard‭’‬,‭ ‬and is a reference to the thickness of the rib.‭ ‬Such thick ribs are uncommon in terrestrial animals,‭ ‬but in aquatic animals they are quite common since the greater weight helps the animal to stay under the water,‭ ‬rather than just bob about upon the surface.‭ ‬Despite this buoyancy adaptation however,‭ ‬Pachypleurosaurus still retained limbs and feet that would have been useful on the land.‭ ‬This indicates that like their nothosaurine relatives,‭ ‬Pachypleurosaurus would still rest on the shore when not actually hunting in the sea.
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures