Aquatic Reptiles
They weren't technically dinosaurs, but these sleek, swimming reptiles filled the lakes, rivers and oceans of the Mesozoic Era.
Archelon
A dinosaur-sized turtle of the late Cretaceous.
A dinosaur-sized turtle of the late Cretaceous.
Aristonectes
One of the last plesiosaurs left before the K/T extinction.
One of the last plesiosaurs left before the K/T extinction.
Attenborosaurus
This plesiosaur was named after the documentarian David Attenborough.
This plesiosaur was named after the documentarian David Attenborough.
Californosaurus
Guess what state this ichthyosaur was discovered in?
Guess what state this ichthyosaur was discovered in?
Cryptoclidus
A classic, sleek, long-necked plesiosaur.
A classic, sleek, long-necked plesiosaur.
Cymbospondylus
A very large--and very ancient--ichthyosaur.
A very large--and very ancient--ichthyosaur.
Dolichorhynchops
A typical pliosaur of the late Cretaceous.
A typical pliosaur of the late Cretaceous.
Elasmosaurus
From head to tail, the longest plesiosaur that ever lived.
From head to tail, the longest plesiosaur that ever lived.
Eurhinosaurus
This ancient ichthyosaur looked like a modern sawfish.
This ancient ichthyosaur looked like a modern sawfish.
Excalibosaurus
This ichthyosaur was named after King Arthur’s sword.
This ichthyosaur was named after King Arthur’s sword.
Grippia
The best specimen of this ichthyosaur was destroyed in World War II.
The best specimen of this ichthyosaur was destroyed in World War II.
Henodus
This Triassic placodont looked remarkably like a modern turtle.
This Triassic placodont looked remarkably like a modern turtle.
Hydrotherosaurus
This "fisherman lizard" roamed the prehistoric coasts of California.
This "fisherman lizard" roamed the prehistoric coasts of California.
Ichthyosaurus
A remarkably fish-like lizard of the Jurassic era.
A remarkably fish-like lizard of the Jurassic era.
Keichousaurus
One of the oldest, and smallest, of all marine reptiles.
One of the oldest, and smallest, of all marine reptiles.
Kronosaurus
This big-toothed pliosaur makes the great white shark seem like a guppy in comparison.
This big-toothed pliosaur makes the great white shark seem like a guppy in comparison.
Lariosaurus
A small aquatic reptile of the Triassic era.
A small aquatic reptile of the Triassic era.
Leptocleidus
This pliosaur spent most of its time in shallow ponds.
This pliosaur spent most of its time in shallow ponds.
Liopleurodon
This mean-looking pliosaur was one of the biggest of all marine reptiles.
This mean-looking pliosaur was one of the biggest of all marine reptiles.
Macroplata
This aquatic reptile looked like a cross between a plesiosaur and a pliosaur.
This aquatic reptile looked like a cross between a plesiosaur and a pliosaur.
Mauisaurus
One of the few plesiosaurs to be discovered in New Zealand.
One of the few plesiosaurs to be discovered in New Zealand.
Megalneusaurus
This pliosaur rivaled Liopleurodon in size.
This pliosaur rivaled Liopleurodon in size.
Mixosaurus
This "mixed lizard" may be the the missing link of ichthyosaurs.
This "mixed lizard" may be the the missing link of ichthyosaurs.
Mosasaurus
The first giant aquatic reptile ever to receive a name.
The first giant aquatic reptile ever to receive a name.
Nothosaurus
A slim, fast swimmer with lots of teeth.
A slim, fast swimmer with lots of teeth.
Omphalosaurus
This "button lizard" may or may not have been a genuine ichthyosaur.
This "button lizard" may or may not have been a genuine ichthyosaur.
Opthalmosaurus
An ocean-dwelling ichythosaur distinguished by its large eyes.
An ocean-dwelling ichythosaur distinguished by its large eyes.
Placodus
This blunt-headed reptile sucked shellfish off the ocean floor.
This blunt-headed reptile sucked shellfish off the ocean floor.
Platypterygius
One of the rare ichthyosaurs to survive into the Cretaceous period.
One of the rare ichthyosaurs to survive into the Cretaceous period.
Plesiosaurus
This long-necked swimmer set the standard for aquatic reptiles.
This long-necked swimmer set the standard for aquatic reptiles.
Pliosaurus
A complete skeleton if this giant swimmer was recently found in Norway.
A complete skeleton if this giant swimmer was recently found in Norway.
Plotosaurus
This fast, sleek predator represented the pinnacle of mosasaur evolution.
This fast, sleek predator represented the pinnacle of mosasaur evolution.
Psephoderma
If a turtle mated with a horseshoe crab, the result might have been this reptile.
If a turtle mated with a horseshoe crab, the result might have been this reptile.
Rhomaleosaurus
One of the most fearsome predators of the Jurassic seas.
One of the most fearsome predators of the Jurassic seas.
Shonisaurus
The largest ichthyosaur yet to be discovered.
The largest ichthyosaur yet to be discovered.
Stenopterygius
A close relative of Ichthyosaurus.
A close relative of Ichthyosaurus.
Styxosaurus
This long-necked swimmer was a relative of Elasmosaurus.
This long-necked swimmer was a relative of Elasmosaurus.
Tanystropheus
This reptile's long neck looked like a rubber pencil.
This reptile's long neck looked like a rubber pencil.
Temnodontosaurus
A dolphin-shaped ichthyosaur that gave birth to live young.
A dolphin-shaped ichthyosaur that gave birth to live young.
Terminonatator
Not quite a Terminator, but close enough.
Not quite a Terminator, but close enough.
Thalassiodracon
This impressive-sounding plesiosaur was actually very small.
This impressive-sounding plesiosaur was actually very small.
Thililua
Try saying its name ten times fast.
Try saying its name ten times fast.
Tylosaurus
A slim, sleek mosasaur of the late Cretaceous.
A slim, sleek mosasaur of the late Cretaceous.
Utatsusaurus
The most ancient ichthyosaur yet discovered.
The most ancient ichthyosaur yet discovered.
Woolungasaurus
The remains of this plesiosaur were dug up in Australia.
The remains of this plesiosaur were dug up in Australia.