ELASMOSAURUS Meaning and
Definition
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Elasmosaurus is a noun that refers to a prehistoric marine reptile, specifically an aquatic dinosaur. It belonged to the group of plesiosaurs, characterized by their long necks and large flippers, and lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 to 65 million years ago. The name "Elasmosaurus" originates from the Greek words "elasmo" meaning "thin plate" and "sauros" meaning "lizard."
This creature was enormous in size, growing up to 14 meters long and weighing several tons. Its distinguishing feature was an extremely long and flexible neck, comprising around 75 vertebrae, which made up a majority of its total length. Its body was streamlined and equipped with powerful flippers that allowed for efficient swimming in marine environments.
Elasmosaurus was a carnivorous predator, having a specialized diet primarily consisting of fish and other small marine organisms. It hunted by using its sharp teeth to grasp its prey and swallow it whole, taking advantage of its elongated neck to reach and snatch prey from a distance.
Fossils of Elasmosaurus have been discovered in various locations across North America, particularly in the Western Interior Seaway that once extended from the present-day Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. These fossils have provided vital insights into the anatomy and behavior of this remarkable creature, contributing to our understanding of life during the Late Cretaceous period.
Common Misspellings for ELASMOSAURUS
- wlasmosaurus
- slasmosaurus
- dlasmosaurus
- rlasmosaurus
- 4lasmosaurus
- 3lasmosaurus
- ekasmosaurus
- epasmosaurus
- eoasmosaurus
- elzsmosaurus
- elssmosaurus
- elwsmosaurus
- elqsmosaurus
- elaamosaurus
- elazmosaurus
- elaxmosaurus
- eladmosaurus
- elaemosaurus
- elawmosaurus
Etymology of ELASMOSAURUS
The word "Elasmosaurus" is derived from Greek. It combines two words: "elasmos" meaning "thin plate" or "flap", and "sauros" meaning "lizard" or "reptile". The name was given to this extinct marine reptile due to its characteristic long neck, which is composed of numerous elongated vertebrae, resembling a "flap" or "thin plate" of bones.
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