Ocean environment and the first marine reptiles

Undularia

Undularia lived in various habitats on the ocean floor. It was an active predator that attacked stationary organisms with the help of its rasping tongue.

This fossil is an internal mould, a natural cast of the living chamber inside the mollusc’s shell. 

Plagiostoma

Plagisostoma was a populous mussel species for many millions of years. They lived along the coastlines of all the oceans, firmly attached to rocks and other hard surfaces where they filtered plankton from the water.

Pleuronectites

Pleuronectites fed itself by filtering plankton from ocean water. An early relative of pilgrim mussels, Pleuronectites lived on the ocean floor with its shell attached to stones or empty shells, much like common mussels do today.

Keichousaurus hui

Keichousaurus was well adapted to a life in the sea. It had a long neck and a fairly small head. The paddle-shaped front legs were longer than the rear legs and were used when it ”flew” through the water. The long feet with five toes helped the animal to steer its movements and remain stable. The tail could be bent from side to side with powerful muscles.  

Encrinus

The tulip-shaped head of this sea lily is common among Triassic fossils from various parts of Europe.

The many arms with their thin branches are densely packed together for protection. When this animal was alive, it unfolded the arms to form a net for catching plankton. Today, sea lilies with stems are found only in deep ocean waters.

Encrinus

The tulip-shaped head of this sea lily is common among Triassic fossils from various parts of Europe.

The many arms with their thin branches are densely packed together for protection. When this animal was alive, it unfolded the arms to form a net for catching plankton. Today, sea lilies with stems are found only in deep ocean waters.

Ceratites nodosus

Ceratites nodosus had a heavy shell with large ridges. Consequently, this ammonite could not swim very fast. Instead, it lived as a passive predator near the ocean floor.

Fossils of Ceratites nodosus have been found in many parts of the world.

Ceratites compressus

Ammonites nearly became extinct during the transition from the Permian to the Triassic Period. Only a few species survived.

Ceratites compressus was among the first species to evolve during the ammonites’ revival after their near-extinction.

Parapholidophorus nybelini

Parapholidophorus was a small herring-like fish with enamel-coated scales and with vertebrae consisting partly of cartilage, as in other early fish species. It can be compared with the more evolved herring-like species of the genus Leptolepides which lived during the Jurassic Period. They lacked armoured scales, and their vertebrae were entirely of bone.