Tylosaurinae
Hainosaurus pembinensis from the Campanian of Kansas
- Europe
- North America
- New Zealand
- Antarctic
The Tylosaurinae are a subfamily of mosasaurs. Among them were particularly large forms, which were the top predators of the oceans in their time.
Features
At the front end of her skull they had a toothless in upper and lower jaw battering ram. He could perhaps be used to prey or rivals to kill by ramming or to incapacitate, much as do the dolphins with sharks. Her body was relatively short, the relatively long tail and no tail fin. Zygapophyses ( long bone rods, the individual vortex elements combined ) were only rudimentary or absent. The Hämalbögen at the base of the caudal spine were not adherent to the Wirbelcentra. Humerus, radius and ulna were long, a primitive characteristic. The carpal bones were reduced, the number of phalanges was increased ( Hyperphalangie ). Her body weight was likely to be relatively low, the porous bone may have contained fat. Limb girdle and fins were rather small.
Way of life
Probably were the Tylosaurinae neither fast swimmers still the strongest mosasaurs. They lay in wait for their prey, hiding and rammed it in a sudden thrust.
Genera
- Hainosaurus
- Taniwhasaurus
- Tylosaurus
Swell
- Richard Ellis: Sea Dragons: Predators of the Prehistoric Oceans. University Press of Kansas, 2003, ISBN 0-7006-1269-6
- Phytosauria Translation and Pronunciation ( version of 11 June 2011 at the Internet Archive )
- Mosasaur
- Mosasauridae