Mesozoic marine reptiles

MESOZOIC MARINE REPTILES

Mesozoic marine reptiles were not dinosaurs and evolved from terrestrial reptiles.

The first forms probably swam near the shore looking for food and returned to lay eggs on dry land. Gradually they evolved over millions of years, adapting to an aquatic life.

Among the reptiles that have adapted to life at seas in the Mesozoic Era are: ichthyosaurs (Ichthyosaurus, Ophthalmosaurus), plesiosaur (Plesiosaurus, Pliosaurus), mosasaurs (Mosasaurus, Tylosaurus) nothosaurs, placodonts, talatosaurios and sea turtles (of the order of Testudines).

With the mass extinction of the dinosaurs (non-avian) at the end of the Cretaceous ,marine reptiles died out completely, except for sea turtles.

Currently, we can include between marine reptiles ,the sea turtles, marine iguanas, sea snakes and saltwater crocodiles.