Megalneusaurus

'''''Megalneusaurus''''' is an [[extinct]] [[genus]] of large [[pliosaurid]] [[plesiosaur]]s that lived during the [[Oxfordian (stage)|Oxfordian]] and [[Kimmeridgian]] [[Stage (stratigraphy)|stages]] of the [[Late Jurassic]] in what is now [[North America]]. It was provisionally described as a [[species]] of ''[[Cimoliosaurus]]'' by the geologist [[Wilbur Clinton Knight]] in 1895, before being given its own genus by the same author in 1898. The only species identified to date is '''''M. rex''''', known from several specimens mainly identified in the Redwater Shale Member, within the [[Sundance Formation]], [[Wyoming]], United States. A specimen discovered in the [[Naknek Formation]] in southern [[Alaska]] was referred to the genus in 1994. The incomplete and incorrectly described nature of the fossils led some paleontologists to consider the genus as [[nomen dubium|dubious]], but a 2010 study detailing new and early known fossils reestablished its [[Valid name (zoology)|validity]]. The [[Binomial nomenclature|binominal name]] literally means "king of large swimming lizards", due to the measurement of the fossils of the [[holotype]] specimen.

'''''Megalneusaurus''''' is an [[extinct]] [[genus]] of large [[pliosaurid]] [[plesiosaur]]s that lived during the [[Oxfordian (stage)|Oxfordian]] and [[Kimmeridgian]] [[Stage (stratigraphy)|stages]] of the [[Late Jurassic]] in what is now [[North America]]. It was provisionally described as a [[species]] of ''[[Cimoliosaurus]]'' by the geologist [[Wilbur Clinton Knight]] in 1895, before being given its own genus by the same author in 1898. The only species identified to date is '''''M. rex''''', known from several specimens mainly identified in the Redwater Shale Member, within the [[Sundance Formation]], [[Wyoming]], United States. A specimen discovered in the [[Naknek Formation]] in southern [[Alaska]] was referred to the genus in 1994. The incomplete and incorrectly described nature of the fossils led some paleontologists to consider the genus as [[nomen dubium|dubious]], but a 2010 study detailing new and early known fossils reestablished its [[Valid name (zoology)|validity]]. The [[Binomial nomenclature|binominal name]] literally means "king of large swimming lizards", due to the measurement of the fossils of the [[holotype]] specimen.

Estimated to be around {{convert|7|–|9|m|ft}} long, ''Megalneusaurus'' is one of the [[Largest prehistoric animals#Plesiosaurs (Plesiosauria)|largest]] known North American pliosaur. As its name suggests, the genus was considered the largest [[sauropterygia]]n identified before the discovery of some ''[[Kronosaurus]]'' fossils in 1930. Like some other plesiosaurs, ''Megalneusaurus'' has four paddle-like limbs, a short tail, and most likely an elongated head and short neck, suggesting that it is a [[thalassophonea]]n-like pliosaurid.

Estimated to be around {{convert|7|–|9|m|ft}} long, ''Megalneusaurus'' is one of the [[Largest prehistoric animals#Plesiosaurs (Plesiosauria)|largest]] known North American pliosaur. As its name suggests, the genus was considered the largest [[sauropterygia]]n identified before the discovery of some ''[[Kronosaurus]]'' fossils in 1930. Like some other plesiosaurs, ''Megalneusaurus'' has four paddle-like limbs, a short tail, and most likely an elongated head and short neck, suggesting that it is a [[thalassophonea]]n-like pliosaurid. The animal would have lived in the shallow waters of the [[Sundance Sea]], an [[epicontinental sea]] covering much of North America during part of the [[Jurassic]]. Like other plesiosaurs, ''Megalneusaurus'' was well-adapted to aquatic life, using its flippers for a method of swimming known as [[subaqueous flight]]. It shared its habitat with [[invertebrate]]s, [[fish]], [[Ichthyosauria|ichthyosaur]]s, and other plesiosaurs, including the [[cryptoclidid]]s ''[[Pantosaurus]]'' and ''[[Tatenectes]]''. Based on [[stomach]] contents, the animal fed on [[cephalopod]]s and fish, although it is not excluded that it would have attacked and fed on contemporary plesiosaurs. The referred specimen known from Alaska also indicates that it would have also occupied colder waters located further north of the continent, although the fauna is less diverse.

The animal would have lived in the shallow waters of the [[Sundance Sea]], an [[epicontinental sea]] covering much of North America during part of the [[Jurassic]]. Like other plesiosaurs, ''Megalneusaurus'' was well-adapted to aquatic life, using its flippers for a method of swimming known as [[subaqueous flight]]. It shared its habitat with [[invertebrate]]s, [[fish]], [[Ichthyosauria|ichthyosaur]]s, and other plesiosaurs, including the [[cryptoclidid]]s ''[[Pantosaurus]]'' and ''[[Tatenectes]]''. Based on [[stomach]] contents, the animal fed on [[cephalopod]]s and fish, although it is not excluded that it would have attacked and fed on contemporary plesiosaurs. The referred specimen known from Alaska also indicates that it would have also occupied colder waters located further north of the continent, although the fauna is less diverse.

==Research history==

==Research history==