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Platypterygius

Say it: PLAT-ee-pter-IH-jee-us

Name means: “flat fin”1

Ate: MeatIchthyosaursLate Jurassic to Late CretaceousNot technically a dinosaur

Platypterygius was a giant marine reptile that swam in the seas during the time of the dinosaurs. It looked a bit like a dolphin but had a long snout full of sharp teeth. It was a fast hunter that ate fish, sea turtles, and even baby birds.1

Fun fact: this sea reptile swam while dinosaurs walked on land. Everyone calls them dinos, but they were a different branch of reptiles.

Lived

162 to 94 million years ago3

Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous

Fossils found in

Australia, France, United States, Chile, Russia, Germany, and many other countries3

Food

Meat1

Length

4 to 7 m1

scientists estimate

When did it live?

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

252 million years ago20114566, the asteroid

How big was it?

How long was it?

as long as 7 dogs nose to tailas long as 39 bananas end to end

How big was Platypterygius compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

cool stuff

Fun facts

Platypterygius means 'flat fin' because its flippers were wide and flat, like paddles.1

It lived from about 161 to 94 million years ago, during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.3

Fossils of Platypterygius have been found on every continent except Antarctica.3

Some Platypterygius fossils have baby sea turtles and bird bones in their stomachs, showing what it ate.1

Scientists think Platypterygius was a fast swimmer that chased prey in the open ocean.3

The name Platypterygius has been used for many different ichthyosaurs, and some scientists think it might include several different species.1

AI-made picture of Platypterygius — An AI-made picture of how Platypterygius might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Platypterygius

?How big was Platypterygius?

Different species reached different sizes. Platypterygius platydactylus was about 5 metres (16 ft) long, while Platypterygius australis was about 7 metres (23 ft) long.1

?What did Platypterygius eat?

It was a large predator that ate fish, squid, and other marine animals. One fossil even had baby sea turtles and bird bones in its stomach.1 2

?Is Platypterygius a dinosaur?

No, it is not a dinosaur. It is an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that lived in the sea at the same time as dinosaurs.1 2

?When did Platypterygius live?

Platypterygius lived during the Cretaceous period, from about 141 million years ago to 65 million years ago.2

?Could Platypterygius swim fast?

Yes, it was a fast swimmer. Its dolphin-like body and flat flippers helped it chase prey in the open ocean.1 2

?Where were Platypterygius fossils found?

Fossils have been found on many continents, including Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. In Australia, they were found in areas once covered by the Eromanga Sea.1 2

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For dino experts

Scientific name: Platypterygius
Named by: von Huene 19223
Group: Ichthyosaurs
Family / clade: Ophthalmosauridae3
Classification: Ichthyosauria > Ichthyosauromorpha3
Age of the rocks: 162 to 94 million years (Oxfordian / Cenomanian)3
Rock formations: Toolebuc, Zapata, Marnes bleues3
Countries: Australia, France, USA, Chile, Russia, Germany3
Fossil records: 62 in the Paleobiology Database3
Also known as: Longirostria, Myobradypterygius, Myopterygius, Plutoniosaurus, Tenuirostria (older names now counted as the same animal)3
Discovery: Platypterygius was named by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1922. The first fossils were found in Germany.3
Still debated: Scientists are not sure which species really belong to Platypterygius, because many different ichthyosaurs have been lumped into this group.1

Where the facts come from

Platypterygius (en.wikipedia.org)
Dinosaurs - Platypterygius longmani - The Australian Museum (australian.museum)
Platypterygius in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

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