ELASMOSAUR Meaning and
Definition
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Elasmosaur:
Elasmosaur is a noun that refers to an extinct marine reptile belonging to the order of Plesiosauria. It existed during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 to 65 million years ago. The name "elasmosaur" is derived from the Greek words "elasmos," meaning "thin plate," and "sauros," meaning "lizard." This name accurately describes the characteristic feature of elasmosaurs, which is an exceptionally long neck that consists of numerous vertebrae, each bearing flat, plate-like bones.
Elasmosaurs were large aquatic predators that possessed a unique and elongated body structure. The neck of an elasmosaur could reach lengths of up to two-thirds of its overall body length, making it one of the longest necks in vertebrate evolution. The elongated neck was accompanied by a relatively small head, equipped with sharp teeth specialized for catching and consuming small fish, mollusks, and other marine organisms.
These reptiles were well-adapted to an open marine habitat and were highly efficient swimmers, using their four flippers to propel through the water. Elasmosaurs were typically around 10 to 15 meters long, with some species potentially reaching lengths of up to 17 meters.
Although elasmosaurs are now extinct, their fossil remains have provided significant insights into the ancient marine ecosystems they inhabited. Many elasmosaur fossils have been discovered worldwide, with notable findings in North America and Europe. Studying elasmosaurs helps scientists understand the diversity, anatomy, and evolution of these fascinating creatures that once roamed the oceans millions of years ago.
Common Misspellings for ELASMOSAUR
- wlasmosaur
- slasmosaur
- dlasmosaur
- rlasmosaur
- 4lasmosaur
- 3lasmosaur
- ekasmosaur
- epasmosaur
- eoasmosaur
- elzsmosaur
- elssmosaur
- elwsmosaur
- elqsmosaur
- elaamosaur
- elazmosaur
- elaxmosaur
- eladmosaur
- elaemosaur
- elawmosaur
- elasnosaur
Etymology of ELASMOSAUR
The word "elasmosaur" is a combination of two ancient Greek words: "elasmos" (ελασμός) meaning "thin plate" or "metal plate" and "sauros" (σαῦρος) meaning "lizard" or "reptile".
This name was coined in 1868 by Edward Drinker Cope, an American paleontologist, to describe a group of long-necked marine reptiles known as plesiosaurs. Elasmosaurs were characterized by their elongated necks, small heads, and paddle-like limbs. Cope used the term "elasmosaur" to emphasize the presence of long and flexible necks in these creatures, which distinguished them from other plesiosaurs.
