Species
Cetiosaurus oxoniensis
Cetiosaurus oxoniensisAlso known as Oxford Whale Lizard
Cetiosaurus oxoniensis was a heavy-bodied sauropod that browsed the lush, subtropical floodplains and coastal scrublands of Middle Jurassic Europe. Its solid, primitive vertebrae lacked the extensive air pockets seen in later sauropods, giving it immense skeletal density to anchor its pillar-like limbs. Herds likely shaped local vegetation regimes by clearing high conifer boughs and tough cycad fronds with their peg-shaped teeth.
HerbivorousPrehistoric
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyConifer foliage, Cycad fronds, Ferns
Predators
- Megalosaurus bucklandii
ThreatsTheropod predation and severe Jurassic climate fluctuations
HabitatsSubtropical coastal floodplains, island woodlands, and coastal estuaries
Life span40–60 years
Classification
- FamilyCetiosauridae
- SpeciesCetiosaurus oxoniensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from fossil specimens.
Responsible observation
- Museum Viewing: Examine mounted casts in natural history museums to study its heavy skeletal frame.
- Fossil Etiquette: Leave any newly uncovered fossil material in place and notify paleontologists immediately.
Predator (c) the paleobear, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Distant Relative Henry Osborn, Charles Mook, ED Cope / Public domain · cc0
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