Name:
Metriorhynchus (Greek for "moderate snout"); pronounced MET-ree-oh-RINK-us
Habitat:
Shores of western Europe and South America
Historical Period:
Late Jurassic (155-145 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 10 feet long; weight unknown
Diet:
Fish
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Lack of scales; light, porous skull
About Metriorhynchus:
The genus Metriorhynchus comprises about a dozen known species, making this one of the most common sea-going crocodiles of the late Jurassic. This early crocodile was characterized by its lack of scales (its smooth skin probably resembled that of an ichthyosaur) and its lightweight, porous skull, which presumably enabled it to poke its head out of the surface of the water while the rest of its body floated underneath at a 45-degree angle.
