Clidastes

Clidastes is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Mosasaurinae subfamily, alongside genera like Mosasaurus and Prognathodon. Clidastes has been recovered from deposits ranging in age from the Coniacian to the late Campanian around the world, primarily in the United States but also in Sweden,[1] Germany,[2] Russia and Mexico.[3]
Maastrichtian remains referred to the genus have been reported from Jordan,[4] but the extent of these remains and if they surely can be assigned to a genus otherwise lacking any sign of survival beyond the latest Campanian remains unknown.
Clidastes means "locked vertebrae", which originates from the Greek noun κλειδί, or kleid meaning key (akin to Latinclaudere meaning to shut). This refers to how the vertebral processes allow the proximal heads of the vertebrae to interlock for stability and strength during swimming.
It was one of the earliest hydropedal[note 1] mosasaurs, representing one of the first properly marine predatory forms alongside other early hydropedal genera like Tylosaurus and Platecarpus.[5] It was likely an agile swimmer that preyed upon cephalopods, fish and other small vertebrates in shallow water.
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures