Peloneustes philarchus
Peloneustes philarchus is a fossil marine reptile from the Pliosauridae and probably the best known pliosaurid species in the world.
Peloneustes philarchus is a species of fossil marine reptile known from the Middle Jurassic (164.7-161.2 million years ago) of the UK.
Peloneustes philarchus is the most common species of fossil pliosaurid from the UK, and probably the best known pliosaurid species in the world due to the relatively large number of specimens held in museum collections.
Peloneustes philarchus belongs to a family of plesiosaurs called Pliosauridae, of which there are at least nine 9 species known from around the world, from the Middle Jurassic to the Upper Cretaceous.
Species detail
Peloneustes philarchus had a stream-lined body and large hydrofoil-like flippers that it used to swim through the water. This suggests a strictly aquatic lifestyle. It is unlikely Peloneustes philarchus could venture onto land.
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Biology
Learn about the size and shape of Peloneustes philarchus as well as what is known about the eating habits of the species.
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Distribution
Find out where Peloneustes philarchus fossils are known from.
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Habitat
Discover the types of habitat that Peloneustes philarchus lived in and what its body shape suggests about its lifestyle.
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References
Get reference material for Peloneustes philarchus.
Images
Peloneustes philarchus is a fossil marine reptile from the Pliosauridae and probably the best known pliosaurid species in the world.
A Peloneustes philarchus skull - the species had a long narrow snout with up to 80 teeth in the upper and 80 teeth in the lower jaws.
Most Peloneustes philarchus fossil material has been collected from clay pits in and around Peterborough and Bedford in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Peloneustes philarchus had large hydrofoil-like flippers that it used to swim through the water.
A Peloneustes philarchus skeleton.
