Plesiosaurus sp.
Upper Triassic (Rhaetian), Westbury-on-Severn (GB)
The two pits on the ventral side of the vertebra are diagnostic for plesiosaurs.
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The Triassic world-wide: Great Britain |
| During most of the Triassic, Great Britain was continental. Red beds with dunes and playa evaporites are the common facies. There's evidence of reptiles and amphibians as well as of fresh water fishes. A marine environment established during the world-wide sea level rise in the Upper Triassic. Besides a rich flora the Rhaetian of England offers remains of marine reptiles (Plesiosaurus, Ichthyosaurus), fishes and insects. Plesiosaurs are believed to have evolved from nothosaurs, but evidence of linking forms that are expected to appear in the Upper Triassic is very scarce. Unlike to the Germanic Basin, the Rhaetian/Lias boundary in Great Britain is not marked by an obvious facies change, so the exact Triassic/Jurassic boundary is hard to find. | |
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Vertebra
Plesiosaurus sp. Upper Triassic (Rhaetian), Westbury-on-Severn (GB) The two pits on the ventral side of the vertebra are diagnostic for plesiosaurs. |
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| Scale length, if not otherwise stated: 1 cm. | |