Species
Opetiosaurus bucchichi
Opetiosaurus bucchichiOpetiosaurus bucchichi patrolled the warm, shallow coastal lagoons of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the Late Cretaceous epoch. Equipped with a slender body, paddle-like limbs, and a flexible swimming tail, this agile marine reptile preyed on small aquatic organisms along island shorelines. Its skeletal anatomy reveals a crucial evolutionary transition connecting terrestrial squamates to giant oceanic mosasaurs.
Marine ReptilePrehistoric
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySmall bony fish, Crustaceans, Cephalopods
Predators
- Prehistoric sharks
- Large marine reptiles
ThreatsLarger marine reptiles and oceanic sharks
HabitatsWarm shallow marine carbonate platforms and coastal lagoons
Life spanEstimated 10–20 years
Classification
- FamilyAigialosauridae
- SpeciesOpetiosaurus bucchichi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossil deposits; harmless.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Examination: View preserved specimens and comparative casts in natural history museum collections.
- Anatomy Observation: Check limestone slabs for transitional limb digits and elongate swimming vertebrae.
Image unavailableDistant Kin 
Close Relative Gorjanovic-Kramberger / Public domain · cc0Close Relative Close Relative
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