This ancient Metriorhynchidae reptile had dolphin-like features, including smooth scaleless skin and flippers, adapting it for aquatic life.
In the shallow waters that once covered Germany, a crocodile with a dolphin-like body thrived 135 million years ago.
This period saw the peak diversity of dinosaurs, with famous species such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor roaming the land. In the skies, giant pterosaurs soared, while some big marine reptiles ruled the oceans. This ancient reptile belonged to a group called Metriorhynchidae, known for its dolphin-like adaptations. With smooth scaleless skin, flippers, and a powerful tailfin, it was perfectly suited to life in the water.Although Metriorhynchids flourished in the Jurassic, their fossil record thins considerably in the Cretaceous.
“Enalioetes gives us fresh insight into how metriorhynchids were evolving during the Cretaceous Period. During the Jurassic metriorhynchids evolved a body-plan radically different from other crocodiles—flippers, tailfin, loss of bony armor and smooth scaleless skin,” said Mark Young from the University of Edinburgh.
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