Kronosaurus Characteristics

Kronosaurus measured 43 feet (13 metres) in length. Its head measured 9 feet (2.7 metres) in length alone, about 1/4 of the entire length of the body. Kronosaurus was heavily built, more streamlined, faster and more ferocious than other plesiosaurs. Even though it was a member of the Pliosauridae Family, it had a distinctive feature of having a much shorter and thicker neck. Kronosaurus had 4 strong limbs which had evolved into flippers which helped it to swim powerfully through the waters. Each flipper was located at each corner of its elongated body. Its tail was quite short and pointed and probably helped Kronosaurus to steer itself through the water.

Kronosaurus had huge head with huge powerful jaws with rows of sharp teeth measuring 10 inches (25 centimetres) long. It had rounded teeth at the back of the jaws which could crush shells and cephalopods (squid and octopi). They were more suited to catching fewer larger meals than other plesiosaurs. Fossilized plesiosaurs and turtles have been found in the stomach cavity of Kronosaurus.

Kronosaurus was a fierce carnivore and was an effective predator on many other marine reptiles, turtles, large fish, ammonites and mollusks, basically anything that got in its way much like modern sharks do. Some Plesiosaurs have been found with small stones in their stomachs which may have been used to help grind up their food, or as ballast, to help them dive.

Kronosaurus lived in the open oceans but could breathe air. Like modern day sea turtles, these sea reptiles probably laid their eggs in sand on the beach.

Kronosaurus fossils were first discovered in Queensland, Australia in 1889. Fossils have also been found in Colombia, South America.

Kronosaurus was named and described by Longman in 1924.