Liopleurodon

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A genus of the Pliosauridae, the notorious Liopleurodon is one of the largest marine reptiles. Its name means ‘smooth-sided teeth’, and this fearsome apex predator patrolled the oceans of the Mid-Late Jurassic period using its rows of sharp teeth and powerful jaws to prey on other giant reptiles of the period. Liopleurodon’s hunting efforts are aided by a strong sense of smell that allows it to locate its targets, while its large fins propel the reptile across seas at high speed.

Discovery

The first Liopleurodon fossil was unearthed by French palaeontologist Henri Émile Sauvage in 1873, while excavating a site in Boulogne-sur-Mer. The discovery consisted of a single damaged tooth, but further fossils were found later along the coasts of France and England, enabling experts to understand more about the genus.

Palaeoecology

Liopleurodon roamed the seas around 150-165 million years ago, mainly sticking to shallower waters as it could not breathe underwater. It lived alongside – and feasted upon - other aquatic reptiles including ichthyosaurs, other pliosaurs and even crocodiles.