Nothosaurus

Nothosaurus was a primitive marine reptile from the Triassic. Despite being mainly aquatic, it would often climb onto land to rest or lay its eggs. It was an ancestor of the plesiosaurs from the Jurassic and the Cretaceous.

Creature attributes.

Physical appearance and biology.

Nothosaurus was a medium-sized marine reptile. Unlike the more advanced plesiosaurs and pliosaurs, it did have flippers, but short legs with webbed feet, which were used as a method of locomotion underwater and on land. Unlike the later marine reptiles, Nothosaurus could move both on land and in the sea. It had a streamlined and flexible body as well as a flat, eel-like tail. This combination made it a great swimmer. The head of a Nothosaurus was large. Its jaws were lined with lots of needle-sharp and fin teeth which faced outside of its mouth. Even though they could snap their jaws with tremendous force, the muscles used for opening its jaws were very weak, similar to the modern crocodiles.

Behaviour and traits.

Nothosaurus was a very curious marine reptile. They lived in pairs and would hunt together. If they encountered an unfamiliar creature, they would investigate it to determ if it was a threat or not.

Like the other marine reptiles that lived in its environment, Nothosaurus lacked gills and would have to come to the surface of the water to breathe. Once done, it could hold its breath for a very long time. These Nothosaurs would occasionally travel on land to either bask or lay eggs, much like modern sea turtles do. But this is always a risk, as carnivorous dinosaurs use this as an opportunity to get an easy meal, especially the Nothosaurus hatchlings.

Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Dangerous Sea.

Nothosaurus was featured in the fifth episode of Dawn of the Dinosaurs. It lived in a small colony, hunted fish, sea scorpions, and trilobites underwater and came ashore at night to escape Liopleurodon.