Piscivore

Native to South America, Thanatosdrakon is a large pterosaur that dates back to the Late Cretaceous period - around 86-89 million years ago. With a wingspan of around 9m, this genus is the largest known pterosaur to have inhabited South America, Thanatosdrakon is notable for its unusual appearance, with a very large head and long neck attached to a comparatively small body.

Megalodon dates back around 20 million years to the Miocene period, and is one of the largest sharks ever to have existed - growing up to 15 metres in length and 50 tonnes in weight. Its name, which translates as ‘big tooth’ is self-explanatory: Megalodon has six rows of teeth that could grow up to seven inches in length.

Engineered at the Hammond Creation Lab by the world-famous geneticist Dr. Henry Wu, Spinoraptor is a large, aggressive carnivore. This genus combines the DNA of Spinosaurus and Velociraptor to create a ferocious predator, boasting the size and power of Spinosaurus with the speed and intelligence of Velociraptor. Spinoraptor takes its name – which translates to ‘spined thief’ – from the large spiny sail on its back.

Easily recognised thanks to its unusual, eel-like appearance, the aquatic reptile Nothosaurus first lived around 210-240 million years ago and can grow up to seven metres in length. This genus has paddle-like fins and webbed toes that allow it to swim at high speeds, while its sharp needle teeth and strong jaws make it an efficient hunter.

One of the largest turtles ever to have existed, Archelon measures almost 5m in length and weighs as much as three tonnes. Dating back to the late Cretaceous period, this carnivorous reptile has a sharp beak and powerful flippers, making it an expert hunter. Unlike most modern-day turtles, its shell is soft – although it is tough enough to withstand attacks from predators. The name Archelon translates from ancient Greek as ‘first turtle’.

Dunkleosteus dates back to the late Devonian period and is the apex predator of its environment, with a set of powerful jaws that allow it to rip through even the best armoured prey. This genus gets part of its name from its blunt, bony head (‘osteus’ is the Greek word for bone), and can grow up to 10m in length and weigh in excess of four tonnes.

Shonisaurus is an ichthyosaur from the late Triassic period and is notable for its incredible size – it is one of the largest marine reptiles in history, growing up to 15m in length and nearly 30 tonnes in weight. This genus has a slim body and a long snout, and is a relatively slow swimmer despite having large flippers. While a juvenile Shonisaurus displays small teeth, these grow out by the time the genus reaches adulthood.

Notable for its extended neck, Styxosaurus is a carnivorous plesiosaur from the late Cretaceous period that can grow up to 11m in length and feeds on fish, squid and other marine life. This genus has very sharp teeth and a powerful jaw, making it one of the most efficient predators of its time.

Barbaridactylus is a medium-sized pterosaur that lived towards the end of the late Cretaceous period, around 66-72 million years ago. This genus is distinct from most other pterosaurs in that it is part of the nyctosaurid family, which rarely walked on land and was specially adapted for almost constant flight. It takes its name from the Barbary Coast of North Africa, near to where Barbaridactylus was discovered.

The piscivorous pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus dates back to the late Cretaceous period and is considered to be one of the largest flying animals the world has ever seen, with a wingspan in excess of 10m – roughly the size of a small aeroplane. The name Quetzalcoatlus stems from the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, meaning ‘feathered serpent’.