Ancient Marine Reptiles a New Find in Australia
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From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Australian scientists have identified two new species of ancient marine reptile that swam in the shallow water of an inland sea that existed in central Australia 115 million years ago.
The long-necked reptiles, Umoonasaurus and Opallionectes, were plesiosaurs, said paleontologist Benjamin Kear of the University of Adelaide. Umoonasaurus was about 7.2 feet long and had three crest-like ridges on its skull. Opallionectes was much larger, 18 feet, with masses of needle-like teeth used to trap small fish and squid.
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