Askeptosaurus
Encyclopedia
Askeptosaurus is an extinct genus of aquatic reptile
related to the thalattosaurian group. Their remains have been found in Italy
and Switzerland
.
Askeptosaurus was a very thin, elongated creature, that probably swam like an eel
. Its tail was very long, accounting for around half of the animal's total length of 2 metres (6.6 ft), and its webbed feet would have been well suited for steering itself through the water. Judging from its long jaw
s, it primarily ate fish.
Askeptosaurus probably hunted in deep waters, because it had large eyes suited to conditions of low light. Like ichthyosaur
s, it also had a protective bony ring around the eyes, which would have prevented them from collapsing under the immense water pressure of great depths.
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
related to the thalattosaurian group. Their remains have been found in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
. Its tail was very long, accounting for around half of the animal's total length of 2 metres (6.6 ft), and its webbed feet would have been well suited for steering itself through the water. Judging from its long jaw
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
s, it primarily ate fish.
Askeptosaurus probably hunted in deep waters, because it had large eyes suited to conditions of low light. Like ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins...
s, it also had a protective bony ring around the eyes, which would have prevented them from collapsing under the immense water pressure of great depths.
External links
- The anatomy of Askeptosaurus italicus from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio and the interrelationships of thalattosaurs (Reptilia, Diapsida) http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nrc/cjes/2005/00000042/00000007/art00004