Plesiosaur size: Difference between revisions
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Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) Redirect; poorly written and sourced (including personal websites and Paul's field guide), top 10 lists are inherently misleading when dealing with different estimation techniques and levels of precision, and the only salvageable part of the article is already covered in more detail in the plesiosaur article Tag: New redirect |
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#REDIRECT [[Plesiosaur#Size]] |
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{{cleanup|reason=Outdated information, poor wording.|date = December 2016}} |
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[[File:Paleo Hall at HMNS plesiosaur.jpg|thumb|200x200px|An example of a plesiosaur]] |
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[[Plesiosauria|Plesiosaur]]s are a clade of extinct marine reptiles. |
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==Record sizes== |
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[[File:Fossil-Plesiosaurier-Skelett.jpg|thumb|Plesiosaur skeleton of ''[[Meyerasaurus]]'' in the [[Museum am Löwentor]], [[Stuttgart]], seen from below]] |
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In general, plesiosaurians varied in adult length from between {{convert|1.5|m|ft|0}} to about {{convert|15|m|ft}}. The group thus contained some of the largest marine [[apex predator]]s in the [[fossil record]], roughly equalling the longest [[ichthyosaurs]], [[mosasaurids]], [[sharks]] and [[toothed whales]] in size. Some plesiosaurian remains, such as a {{convert|2.9|m|ft|0}} long set of highly reconstructed and fragmentary lower jaws preserved in the ''[[Oxford University Museum]]'' and referable to ''[[Pliosaurus rossicus]]'' (previously referred to ''[[Stretosaurus]]''<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Tarlo | first1 = L.B.H. | year = 1959 | title = ''Stretosaurus'' gen nov., a giant pliosaur from the Kimmeridge Clay | journal = Palaeontology | volume = 2 | issue = 2| pages = 39–55 }}</ref> and ''[[Liopleurodon]]''), indicated a length of {{convert|13|m|ft}}.<ref name="henry"/> However, it was recently argued that its size cannot be currently determined due to their being poorly reconstructed. MCZ 1285, a specimen currently referable to ''[[Kronosaurus queenslandicus]]'', from the [[Early Cretaceous]] of [[Australia]], was estimated to have a skull length of {{convert|2.85|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Pliosaurus2013>{{Cite journal | last1 = Benson | first1 = R. B. J. | last2 = Evans | first2 = M. | last3 = Smith | first3 = A. S. | last4 = Sassoon | first4 = J. | last5 = Moore-Faye | first5 = S. | last6 = Ketchum | first6 = H. F. | last7 = Forrest | first7 = R. | editor1-last = Butler | editor1-first = Richard J | title = A Giant Pliosaurid Skull from the Late Jurassic of England | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0065989 | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 8 | issue = 5 | pages = e65989 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23741520| pmc = 3669260| bibcode = 2013PLoSO...865989B | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
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==Plesiosauroids== |
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The longest known plesiosauroid was ''[[Aristonectes]]'' at 11.86 metres (38.9 feet) long. |
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===Longest plesiosauroids=== |
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# ''[[Aristonectes|Aristonectes sp.]]'': {{convert|10|-|11.86|m|ft}}<ref name=Paul2022>{{cite book|last=Paul|first=Gregory S.|year=2022|title=The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles|pages=117–119|isbn=9780691193809|publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref> |
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# ''[[Albertonectes vanderveldei]]'': {{convert|11.2-11.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Kubo | first1 = T. | last2 = Mitchell | first2 = M. T. | last3 = Henderson | first3 = D. M. | doi = 10.1080/02724634.2012.658124 | title = ''Albertonectes vanderveldei'', a new elasmosaur (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 32 | issue = 3 | pages = 557–572| year = 2012 | s2cid = 129500470 }}</ref> |
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# ''[[Thalassomedon haningtoni]]'': {{convert|10.86-11.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gorman2016"/><ref>Smith, Elliott Armour. (2020). "Revision of the Genus Styxosaurus and Relationships of the Late Cretaceous Elasmosaurids (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) of the Western Interior Seaway". Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1335. https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1335</ref> |
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# ''[[Fresnosaurus drescheri]]'': more than {{convert|10.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918220040/http://www.dinosauria.com/dml/names/ples.html#F ''Fresnosaurus''] from the Plesiosauria Translation and Pronunciation Guide</ref> |
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# ''[[Styxosaurus|Styxosaurus snowii]]'': {{convert|10.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=Paul2022/> |
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# ''[[Elasmosaurus platyurus]]'': {{convert|10.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gorman2016">{{cite journal | first1 = J.P. | last1 = O'Gorman | title = A Small Body Sized Non-Aristonectine Elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia with Comments on the Relationships of the Patagonian and Antarctic Elasmosaurids | journal = Ameghiniana | volume = 53 | issue = 3 | pages = 245–268 | doi = 10.5710/AMGH.29.11.2015.2928 | year = 2016| s2cid = 133139689 | url = http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/108247 }}</ref> |
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# ''[[Hydralmosaurus|Hydralmosaurus serpentinus]]'': {{convert|9.44|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gorman2016"/> |
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# ''[[Tuarangisaurus keyesi]]'': {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=Paul2022/> |
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# ''[[Hydrotherosaurus alexandrae]]'': {{convert|7.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gorman2016"/> |
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In past, ''[[Mauisaurus]]'' was considered to be more than {{cvt|8|m|ft}} in length,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hiller |first1=Norton |last2=Mannering |first2=A.A. |last3=Jones|first3=C.M. |last4=Cruickshank |first4=A.R.I. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232672883_The_nature_of_Mauisaurus_haasti_Hector_1874_Reptilia_Plesiosauria |title=The nature of ''Mauisaurus haasti'' Hector, 1874 (Reptilia: Plesiosauria) |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |pages=588–601 |year=2005 |volume=25 |issue=3 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0588:TNOMHH]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid = 130607702 }}</ref><ref name="gorman2016"/> but later it was determined as ''[[nomen dubium]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hiller |first1=Norton |last2=O’Gorman |first2=José P. |last3=Otero |first3=Rodrigo A.|last4=Mannering |first4=Al A. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313487910_free_download_link_A_reappraisal_of_the_Late_Cretaceous_Weddellian_plesiosaur_genus_Mauisaurus_Hector_1874 |title=A reappraisal of the Late Cretaceous Weddellian plesiosaur genus Mauisaurus Hector, 1874 |year=2017 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |volume=60|issue=2 |pages=112–128 |doi=10.1080/00288306.2017.1281317|s2cid=132037930 }}</ref> |
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==Pliosauroids== |
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===Longest pliosauroids=== |
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# The NHM symphysis: {{convert|9.1-15.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry">{{cite journal|last=McHenry|first=Colin Richard|year=2009|title=Devourer of Gods: the palaeoecology of the Cretaceous pliosaur Kronosaurus queenslandicus|pages=1–460|url=http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Download/uon:12164/ATTACHMENT02|format=PDF}}</ref> |
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# Abingdon pliosaur: {{convert|9.8-14.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Martill">{{cite journal|last1=Martill |first1=David M.|last2=Jacobs |first2=Megan L. |last3=Smith |first3=Roy E. |date=2023 |title=A truly gigantic pliosaur (Reptilia Sauropterygia) from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Upper Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) of England|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016787823000378|journal=Proceedings of the Geologists' Association}}</ref> |
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# The Peterborough vertebra: {{convert|11.6-14.2|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/>(hypothetical) |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus funkei]]'': {{convert|10-13|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=P.funkei>{{Cite journal |last1=Knutsen |first1=Espen M. |last2=Druckenmiller |first2=Patric S. |last3=Hurum |first3=Jørn H. |date=2012 |title=A new species of Pliosaurus (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) from the Middle Volgian of central Spitsbergen, Norway |url=https://njg.geologi.no/images/NJG_articles/NJG_2_3_2012_13_Knutsen_etal_Scr.pdf |journal=Norwegian Journal of Geology |volume=92 |pages=235–258 |issn=1502-5322 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301151304/https://njg.geologi.no/images/NJG_articles/NJG_2_3_2012_13_Knutsen_etal_Scr.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2020}}</ref> |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus kevani]]'': {{convert|10-13|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Pliosaurus2013"/> |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus rossicus]]/[[Pliosaurus macromerus]]'': {{convert|11.4-12.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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# [[Monster of Aramberri]]: {{convert|11.7-12.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/><ref name=frey>Eberhard Frey and Wolfgang Stinnesbeck ''Plesiosaurs, Reptiles between Grace and Awe'' In: Héctor E. Rivera-Sylva, Kenneth Carpenter, Eberhard Frey (2014) ''Dinosaurs and Other Reptiles from the Mesozoic of Mexico'', ''Indiana University Press'', p.88</ref> |
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# ''[[Kronosaurus queenslandicus]]'': {{convert|10.5-10.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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# ''[[Megalneusaurus rex]]'': {{convert|25-30|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paleonature.org/lets-go-scientific/91-the-largest-pliosaurid-from-north-america|title=The Largest Pliosaurid from North America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801041320/http://paleonature.org/lets-go-scientific/91-the-largest-pliosaurid-from-north-america|archive-date=1 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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# ''[[Rhomaleosaurus|Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni]]'': {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Adam S. Smith |author2=Gareth J. Dyke |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=The skull of the giant predatory pliosaur ''Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni'': implications for plesiosaur phylogenetics |url=http://www.plesiosauria.com/pdf/smith&dyke_2008.pdf |journal=Naturwissenschaften |volume=95 |issue= 10|pages=975–980 |doi=10.1007/s00114-008-0402-z |pmid=18523747|bibcode=2008NW.....95..975S |s2cid=12528732 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203155038/http://plesiosauria.com/pdf/smith&dyke_2008.pdf |archive-date=3 February 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Adam S. Smith|url=https://plesiosauria.com/directory/genera/rhomaleosaurus/|title=''Rhomaleosaurus''|website=Plesiosauria.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004131315/https://plesiosauria.com/directory/genera/rhomaleosaurus/|archive-date=4 October 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Heaviest pliosauroids=== |
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# The NHM symphysis: {{convert|7-32|t|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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# The Peterborough vertebra: {{convert|14.6-26.6|t|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/>(hypothetical) |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus rossicus]]/[[Pliosaurus macromerus]]'': {{convert|19.2|t|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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# [[Monster of Aramberri]]: {{convert|14.9-17.8|t|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus funkei]]'': {{convert|10.6-17|t|abbr=on}}<ref name=P.funkei/> |
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# ''[[Pliosaurus kevani]]'': {{convert|10.6-17|t|abbr=on}}<ref name=Pliosaurus2013/> |
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# ''[[Kronosaurus queenslandicus]]'': {{convert|10.6-12.1|t|abbr=on}}<ref name="henry"/> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|1}} |
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[[Category:Animal size]] |
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[[Category:Plesiosaur-related lists]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:34, 23 December 2023
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