Piscivore

Kronosaurus is a marine reptile from the pliosaur family dating back to the Early Cretaceous period and takes its name from the Greek god Kronos. Kronosaurus’ large, sharp teeth and enormous size – it can grow to in excess of 10m in length – made it the apex predator of its era, while this genus’ powerful flippers allow it to swim at high speeds.

The piscivorous dinosaur Tropeognathus lived in South America during the Early Cretaceous period around 110m years ago, and is one of the largest pterosaurs ever to have existed with a wingspan of over 8m. The name Tropeognathus means ‘keel jaw’, and refers to the enlarged crests on its jaw, which the dinosaur uses to retain balance when diving into water to catch fish.

Easily recognised thanks to its unique appearance, Tapejara is a genus of Pterosaur native to Brazil with a brightly coloured crest on top of its head that could grow up to a metre in length, helping it to attract mates. Its wingspan of around 4m makes it one of the smaller Pterosaurs, while the name Tapejara translates to ‘old being’.

The pterosaur Maaradactylus has a wingspan of around 6m and is easy to recognise thanks to its unusual appearance – its jaws feature curved crests on both the upper and lower sections and contain rows of sharp teeth. Native to South America, the genus is named after the Brazilian legend Maara, a mystical woman who transformed into a monster with large teeth.

Ichthyosaurus is a small marine reptile, measuring around 2m in length – far smaller than other genera of ichthyosaurs, which can grow up to 25m. Its paddle-like limbs and streamlined body allow it to move at great speed through water, catching its prey in its long, thin snout. Ichthyosaurus is a piscivore, with a diet consisting mostly of fish and squid.

Geosternbergia is named after American palaeontologist George F. Sternberg, who was the first to discover then genus. It is one of the largest pterosaurs, with a wingspan of over 7m and a long, tapered beak that can grab fish out of the water or be used as a spear for catching them. Geosternbergia is notable for the distinctive crest on its head, which it used to attract mates for reproduction.

Cearadactylus is a genus of large pterosaur, with a wingspan of approximately 4-5 metres. Its long beak and thin, sharp teeth allow this piscivore to dip down into water and grab fish to eat, while its large eyes ensure it is always aware of any potential threats from nearby predators. This flying reptile’s full name (Cearadactylus atrox) translates to ‘Ceara’s lethal finger’, a reference to the location of its discovery and its sharp talons.

Known for its powerful paddle-like limbs that allow it to swim through water at speed and a flexible, elongated neck that can move quickly to catch fish and other prey, Plesiosaurus is a piscivorous marine reptile that can grow up to 3.5m in length. The name Plesiosaurus means ‘near lizard’, and the genus dates back to the Early Jurassic period, around 200m years ago.

The carnivorous Mosasaurus is one of the largest marine reptiles in history, growing up to nearly 18m in length. Mosasaurus’ rows of sharp teeth, powerful paddle-like limbs and excellent vision make it an efficient predator, feeding on fish, cephalopods and other marine reptiles. Its name translates to ‘lizard of the Meuse River’, in reference to the location of its discovery.

The large theropod Baryonyx can grow up to 10m in length and is notable for its crocodile-like jaws. Baryonyx is primarily a piscivore – although it lives on land, it can grab fish out of rivers with its long claws, and swim in shallow waters to catch prey with its long, serrated teeth. It is believed that Baryonyx is also a scavenger, feeding on the carcasses of smaller dinosaurs on land.