Species
Jucha squalea
Jucha squaleaCruising the cold boreal seaways of Early Cretaceous Russia, this primitive elasmosaurid possessed a moderately elongated neck that foreshadowed the extreme body plans of its Late Cretaceous descendants. Its stout, hydrofoil-shaped flippers enabled four-winged underwater propulsion, allowing it to corner schooling fish and cephalopods with agile bursts. Fossilized remains from the Klimovka Formation shed vital light on the anatomical transitions that marked the very beginning of elasmosaur evolution.
Marine ReptilePrehistoric
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBelemnites, Bony fish, Squid
Predators
- Pliosaurs
- Large lamniform sharks
ThreatsLarge macropredatory pliosaurs and marine shifts
HabitatsTemperate to boreal epicontinental seas
Life span20–30 years (estimated)
Classification
- FamilyElasmosauridae
- SpeciesJucha squalea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct fossil species; entirely safe to observe in museum collections.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Study: Examine vertebral articulation in anatomical figures to observe early neck elongation.
- Museum Etiquette: View mounted specimens and casts from designated barriers without touching delicate rock matrices.
Close Relative Theodor Wegner (1880-1934) / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Same Family MCDinosaurhunter / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family Donald M. Henderson, Sue Sabrowski / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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