Temnodontosaurus
Temnodontosaurus (Greek for "cutting-tooth lizard" – temno, meaning "to cut", odont meaning "tooth" and sauros meaning "lizard") is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic period. They lived between 200 and 175 million years ago (Hettangian-Toarcian) in what is now Western Europe (England, France, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium) and possibly Chile. It lived in the deeper areas of the open ocean. University of Bristol paleontologist Jeremy Martin described the genus Temnodontosaurus as "one of the most ecologically disparate genera of ichthyosaurs," although the number of valid Temnodontosaurus species has varied over the years.
| Temnodontosaurus Temporal range: Early Jurassic, | |
|---|---|
| T. trigonodon skeleton in metal frame, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | †Temnodontosauridae |
| Genus: | †Temnodontosaurus Lydekker, 1889 |
| Species | |
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Temnodontosaurus was one of the largest ichthyosaurs, reaching up to 8–10 metres (26–33 ft) in maximum body length. It is known for its incredibly large eyes which, at approximately 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter, are believed to be the largest of any known animal. It possessed a tail bend that was characteristic of Jurassic ichthyosaurs and had many conical teeth filling its jaw that were set in a continuous groove.