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Brachauchenius lucasi |
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| The
only pliosaur recognized from Kansas at this time is Brachauchenius
lucasi Williston 1903. A few fragmentary specimens suggest other
species may be present. In Kansas, these short-necked pliosaurs are
relatively rare, but are represented by two excellent specimens, the
largest of which is on exhibit at the Sternberg Museum of Natural
History. This specimen was found on June 5, 1951 by Robert and Frank
Jennrich in Russell County while hunting sharks teeth. It was collected
by G. F. Sternberg, with the help of the Jennrich brothers. The lower
jaw is 68 inches (170 cm) long. Somewhere in the Western Interior
Sea, a giant pliosaur (Brachauchenius lucasi) is about to make
lunch out of a small turtle similar to Desmatochelys.
Brachauchenius was one of the last of
the pliosaurs and made it's final appearance in Kansas during the
deposition of the Fairport Chalk Member (lower Turonian) of the Carlile
Shale. |
Brachauchenius
Species :
lucasi
Pronounced :
brak-aw-KEEN-ee-uhs
Pronounced :
LOO-ka-sie
Meaning :
"Short Neck "
Meaning :
named for Frederick Augustus Lucas
Length :
up to 11 meters (36.5')
Skull Length :
up to 1.53 meters ( 5')
Weight :
19-20 tons
Diet :
carnivor = other marine reptiles,
cephalopods, fish, etc.
Period :
Cretaceous
Superorder :
Order :
Suborder :
Superfamily :
Pliosauroidea
Family :
Brachauchneiidae
Described by:
Samuel W. Williston
When described:
1903
Fossils found in :
Ottawa County, Kansas (Benton Formation),
Russell County, Kansas (Greenhorn Limestone),
and near Austin, Texas (Eagle Ford formation)
Charactistics and things of
interest: Known from three nearly
complete skulls with mandibles, and two partial skeletons. The skull is
about 1.5 meters ( 5 feet) Long.
Similar to:
Head similar to Elasmosaur
Debate and Controversy:
To which is Brachauchenius related to Elasmosauridae or Pliosauridae |
| Brachauchenius (meaning "short neck") was a plesiosaur that lived
during the late Cretaceous period. This pliosauroid marine reptile was
up to 36.5 feet (11 m) long; its broad, triangular, pointed skull was up
to 5 feet (1.53 m) long. Brachauchenius was a meat-eater that ate fish
and other swimming animals. It had sharp teeth, strong jaws, and a short
neck. It lived in the open oceans and breathed air. Brachauchenius may
have laid eggs in nest that it dug into the sand, much as modern-day sea
turtles do. Plesiosaurs swam using their four paddle-like flippers in a
manner similar to that of modern turtles. They might have been able to
move a little bit on land, as modern seals do. Brachauchenius was named
by Williston in 1903. The type secies is Brachauchenius lucasi. |
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