Page 95 - Prehistoric Animals

Nuth-O-Sorus

Nothosaurus

Nothosaurus (false lizard) is an extinct genus
of sauropterygian* reptile from the Triassic; it lived about
240 to 210 million years ago. There are several species of the
genus, all varying in size ranging within 4 to 7 metres long.

Although Nothosaurus was a very adapt swimmer it
was not totally committed to an aquatic life and was believed
to be semi-aquatic, living in and out of water. However, un-
like the modern day semi-aquatic seals that have robust fins,
Nothosaurus had flexible ankles and feet with webbed toes. It
had a long sleek body and its skull was broad and flat, with
long jaws, lined with needle sharp teeth. It had four flexible
legs. In the water these would have been used more like pad-
dles then fins. As its main form of propulsion through the wa-
ter it would have, possibly, used its body and tail in a weaving
motion; its legs hugging its body and used only when needed.
Its diet is unclear; however, it’s widely accepted most aquatic
life would have been on its menu. There is evidence that it did
dig or fan away the sea bed searching for anything hiding un-
derneath.

Since it was first named by Münster in 1834, many
species of Nothosaurus have been discovered worldwide. Alt-
hough they all share the same characteristics, there are slight
differences, one being the difference in size; some a mere 3 to
4 metres long while others 7 to 8 metres. This difference has
been attributed to the environment each species resided. An-
other interesting fact to emerge from the study of this species
is that some, not all, could be the ancestors of the giant plesi-
osaurs, Liopleurodon and Cryptoclidus. If this is the case,
that would make Nothosaurus very important and notewor-
thy in the natural development of marine reptiles.

The disappearance of Nothosaurus is unclear, but it’s
presumed its demise was the result of the mass extinction
event that occurred in late Triassic when one third of life on
earth perished

*Sauropterygia (Wikipedia)
("lizard flippers") is an extinct taxon of diverse, aquatic reptiles that developed
from terrestrial ancestors soon after the end-Permian extinction and flourished
during the Triassic before all except for the Plesiosauria became extinct at the
end of that period.