Do any water dinosaurs exist? Close your eyes and think of a dinosaur. Now, think of a dinosaur in water.
However then you have the creatures that swam the Mesozoic oceans– like the long-necked plesiosaurs and sharp-toothed mosasaurs– so whats up with that? Contrary to common belief, real dinosaurs didnt populate the seas. Rather, the mosasaur, the plesiosaur, and other titanic sea animals were marine reptiles, not dinosaurs.
Still, some dinosaurs occupied coastal locations and might have even swam from time to time. Lets meet them.
Creative depiction of dinosaur-age marine reptiles. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Sea Dinosaurs: The Great Misconception
Its worth emphasizing that while these creatures lived at the same time as dinosaurs and were reptiles, they were not actually dinosaurs themselves. Dinosaurs are a specific group of reptiles that, by meaning, are land-dwelling.
You can think about them as far-off relatives, sort of like comparing pet dogs to foxes. Yet, regardless of this technicality, these marine giants mesmerize our creativities simply as powerfully as any T. rex.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The term “sea dinosaurs” can be a bit deceptive. During the age of dinosaurs, there were many extraordinary marine reptiles that swam in the oceans.
Swimming Dinosaur: The Spinosaurus
Researchers have believed for a long time that dinosaurs like Spinosaurus did take a dip now and then. Fossil evidence shows specialized adaptations (webbed feet, nostrils positioned high up on the skull, crocodile-like teeth appropriate for capturing fish, and dense bones which might have assisted it in buoyancy control) that suggest these land-based giants might have been excellent swimmers.
The Spinosaurus was a true dinosaur– and a true predator. It wasnt a marine dinosaur (keep in mind, dinosaurs were land animals), but it was pretty fond of water also. People are also terrestrial creatures, however that doesnt suggest we cant delight in a good swim occasionally. Some dinosaurs were no different.
Now, lets look at some other examples.
Image credits: Peter Montgomery.
” This dinosaur was actively pursuing prey in the water column, not simply standing in shallow waters awaiting fish to swim by. It most likely spent many of its life in the water.” The discovery also indicates the possibility of a relentless and prevalent intrusion of marine habitats by loved ones of Spinosaurus.
Spinosaurus is considered one of the biggest, if not the largest, of all meat-eating dinosaurs. Estimates of its size differ, however its thought to have actually been around 48-59 feet (14-18 meters) in length and could weigh in between 7 to 20 loads. The most striking function is the tall “sail” on its back, formed by lengthened neural spinal columns originating from the back vertebrae.
In the last decade, University of Portsmouth paleontologist and National Geographic Explorer Nizar Ibrahim has actually unearthed different parts of a Spinosaurus skeleton in North Africas Sahara Desert.
Spinosaurus likely resided in humid environments near water– think tidal flats, mangrove forests, rivers. Not extremely different from how crocodilians today invest their lives.
” We fought sandstorms, flooding, snakes, scorpions and more to excavate the most enigmatic dinosaur worldwide and now we have numerous lines of proof all pointing in the exact same instructions– the skeleton truly has “water-loving dinosaur” composed all over it!”
The Spinosaurus is significant for something else. Unlike most other big theropods, Spinosaurus had adjustments recommending it invested a considerable amount of time in water.
Another restoration of a Spinosaurus species. We do not truly know what color this dinosaur would have had. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Spinosaurus is the closest thing we understand of to a swimming dinosaur. Remember, going for a swim does not turn a dinosaur into a sea animal.
Ibrahim and his team formerly suggested that Spinosaurus might swim and actively pursue victim in the water. Some researchers disagree with this idea, however the current research study offers definitive evidence that Spinosaurus was indeed an aquatic (or semi-aquatic) dinosaur.
Water Dinosaur with Long Neck: Meet the Plesiosaurs
These ancient reptiles didnt chew their food. Instead, they used their needle-like teeth to snag victim and swallow it whole.
We do not understand everything about the plesiosaurs, nevertheless. Researchers are uncertain what kind of gait they would have had, or how fast they could swim. Theres likewise some speculation as to whether they would have crawled up on a beach to lay eggs, like contemporary turtles, or delivered in water. Were also unsure whether they hunted in packs or singular.
Unlike many reptiles nowadays, they appeared to care for their young, and from the discovered fossils, we can deduce that social behavior in general was fairly intricate.
Another plesiosaur species, with a longer neck. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
But no, plesiosaurs were not dinosaurs: they were marine reptiles.
When people say “water dinosaur,” they most likely refer to this one.
Plesiosaurs initially appeared in the most recent Triassic Period, just over 200 million years earlier. The size of plesiosaurs differed amongst species. Some were as small as 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length, while others, like the famous Elasmosaurus, might mature to 14 meters (46 feet) long. They were carnivorous, feeding on fish and squid, and in some cases, other reptiles. Plesiosaurs still breathed air, but were otherwise adjusted to an aquatic lifestyle, hunting, living, and spending the majority of their time in water.
Artistic depiction of a types of plesiosaurs. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
If youve ever seen the Loch Ness Monsters expected “pictures,” youve got a basic concept of what a plesiosaur looked like. Picture a creature with a broad, turtle-like body, and an incredibly long neck, typically greater than the length of its body. This enchanting style wasnt just for show; it most likely assisted the plesiosaurs catch fish with amazing effectiveness.
Mosasaurus: The T-Rex of the Sea
And heres a fun reality for you: mosasaurs were actually associated with modern-day display lizards. Thats right– think about the Komodo dragon, then imagine it bulked up, slapped on some fins, and took over the seas.
By the end of the Cretaceous period, mosasaurs were the dominant marine predators. Their reign was cut short by the mass termination event that happened around 65 million years earlier, which cleaned out all non-avian dinosaurs and lots of marine types, consisting of the magnificent mosasaurs.
You cant go over water-dwelling giants without mentioning the mosasaur. These creatures were the apex predators of their time, boasting teeth that would make a terrific white shark green with envy. Unlike plesiosaurs, mosasaurs had a more streamlined body and an extended, crocodile-like snout.
These animals had a double-hinged jaw and flexible skull, permitting them to take in large prey. This jaw was lined with rows of sharp, cone-shaped teeth, ideal for understanding slippery, fast-moving marine animals. Their diet mainly included fish, however they likewise took advantage of smaller sized marine reptiles, birds, and even sharks.
Reconstruction of a mosasaur. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The other reptile that individuals would commonly connect with a sea dinosaur are the mosasaurs.
Mosasaurs breathed air, were effective swimmers, and were well-adapted to residing in the warm, shallow inland seas prevalent throughout the Late Cretaceous period. Their 4 limbs had evolved into flippers, helping in their marine lifestyle.
Largest Water Dinosaurs: The ichthyosaurs
Artist impression of ichthyosaur. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Covering a history of over 150 million years, these creatures played a popular function in the ancient marine ecosystem. Their name, “ichthyosaur,” translates to “fish lizard” in Greek, which appropriately describes their fish-like appearance. They were also really big. A few of these marine reptiles were similar in size to contemporary cetaceans (whales).
The other iconic water reptiles from the age of the dinosaurs are ichthyosaurs.
Nevertheless, unlike other reptiles on this list, the ichthyosaurs didnt live up until completion of the Mesozoic period. They went extinct some 90 million years earlier, method before the meteorite induced the death of the last dinosaurs (or to be technically proper, the death of the non-avian dinosaurs).
Their adjustments for a life totally at sea were many. Large, round eyes recommend that some types might have hunted in low-light conditions, possibly diving deep to chase their prey.
The biggest ichthyosaur and the largest marine reptile was the Late Triassic types Shastasaurus sikanniensis. It measured a tremendous 21 m (69 feet) long and weighed 81.5 loads (180,000 lb) in weight.
Ichthyosaurs also have the biggest eye sockets of all understood vertebrates, and fossil proof recommends that they brought to life live young, comparable to modern-day whales. This adjustment implied they never needed to return to land, unlike some other marine reptiles of the time.
Water Dinosaur Examples: A Roster of Legends
By now, youre most likely itching to satisfy more of these ancient swimmers. Yet once again, these are not real water dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are land creatures. But for the absence of a much better term (and since reptiles that lived in addition to dinosaurs and sort of looked like dinosaurs and lived in water however werent precisely dinosaurs does not sound that well), here are some more water dinosaurs– consisting of a few of which weve taken a look at, and some we havent:
Plesiosaurs: Known for their long necks and 4 big flippers. The well-known Loch Ness Monster misconception is typically illustrated as a plesiosaur.
Ichthyosaurs: Dolphin-like marine reptiles that lived throughout the Mesozoic era.
Depiction of a nothosaur. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Nothosaurs: Marine reptiles with elongated bodies and long necks, they were the forefathers to plesiosaurs.
Thalattosaurs: These were medium-sized marine reptiles with lengthened snouts, which they likely utilized to probe crevices for prey.
Mosasaurs: Large, predatory marine reptiles. Theyre more carefully associated to monitor lizards and snakes than to dinosaurs.
Placodonts: Reptiles that were rather turtle-like in look, with bony plates and specialized for squashing shellfish.
Sauropterygians: This is a varied group that included both nothosaurs and plesiosaurs, but likewise had other members:
Eosauropterygians: Early members of this group, that included types like Lariosaurus.
Thalattosuchians: These were marine crocodylomorphs (related to todays crocodiles) that adapted to life in the sea. They consisted of:
These are simply a couple of examples. The Mesozoic seas were busy with life, from small, nimble hunters to lumbering leviathans. Each had its distinct survival strategy, however all shared a world far eliminated from ours– a world worth valuing and studying.
Metriorhynchids: Fully marine crocodylomorphs with flippers rather of legs and a shark-like tail fin.
Artist impression of Archelon turtle. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Teleosaurs: Similar and long-snouted in look to contemporary gharials, but marine-adapted.
Turtles: Ancient marine turtles understood as Archelon were a few of the largest turtles ever understood. While contemporary sea turtles are not associated with the abovementioned reptiles, the ancient marine variations often captivate creativities in a comparable method.
Water dinosaurs FAQ
Were “water dinosaurs” actually dinosaurs? The marine reptiles, often colloquially referred to as “water dinosaurs”, are totally separate from the dinosaur lineage. If theyre not dinosaurs why are they in some cases called “water dinosaurs”?
Theyre not dinosaurs, but theyre just as amazing
Its not simply paleontologists who should care about these bygone behemoths. Understanding them improves our comprehension of evolution, ecology, and the Earths history. Plus, lets be sincere: theyre simply plain cool.
Who knows what other ancient secrets they hold? Feel the waves, hear the ancient roars, and keep the spirit of expedition alive.
There you have it– the wonderful, waterlogged world of “water dinosaurs,” or more accurately, Mesozoic marine reptiles. They might not have actually been true dinosaurs, however they definitely deserve a location in our cumulative imagination, right along with the T. rex and Triceratops.
It wasnt a marine dinosaur (keep in mind, dinosaurs were land creatures), however it was pretty fond of water. For the absence of a better term (and due to the fact that reptiles that lived along with dinosaurs and sort of looked like dinosaurs and lived in water but werent precisely dinosaurs does not sound that well), here are some more water dinosaurs– consisting of some of which weve looked at, and some we have not:
Were “water dinosaurs” actually dinosaurs? The marine reptiles, typically colloquially referred to as “water dinosaurs”, are entirely different from the dinosaur lineage. If theyre not dinosaurs why are they in some cases called “water dinosaurs”?