Shastasaurus
Shastasaurus was a giant marine reptile that swam in the oceans during the Late Triassic, not a dinosaur. Some species were as long as a blue whale, making them among the biggest reptiles that ever lived. It had a very short, toothless snout, unlike most other ichthyosaurs.1
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Fun facts
Shastasaurus lived about 235 to 205 million years ago, during the Late Triassic period.1
The largest species, Shastasaurus sikanniensis, could reach 21 metres (69 feet) long and weigh over 80 tonnes, as heavy as a large whale.1
Unlike most ichthyosaurs, which had long snouts full of teeth, Shastasaurus had a very short, toothless beak.1
Scientists think Shastasaurus may have been a suction feeder, sucking in soft prey like squid, similar to some modern beaked whales.1
The name Shastasaurus comes from Mount Shasta in California, near where the first fossils were found.1
Shastasaurus had a very slender body. One species had a ribcage less than 2 metres deep even though its flippers were 7 metres apart.1
It is not known if Shastasaurus had a dorsal fin, but earlier ichthyosaurs like Mixosaurus did have one.1
Most asked questions about Shastasaurus
?Was Shastasaurus a dinosaur?
No, Shastasaurus was an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that lived in the oceans, not a dinosaur.1
?How big was Shastasaurus?
The largest species, Shastasaurus sikanniensis, could reach up to 21 metres (69 feet) long and weigh 81.5 metric tons (89.8 short tons). The type species, S. pacificus, was smaller at over 7 metres (23 feet).1
?What did Shastasaurus eat?
Scientists think Shastasaurus may have been a suction feeder, sucking in soft prey like squid and fish. However, some recent research suggests its jaws were not well suited for suction feeding.12
?Did Shastasaurus have teeth?
No, Shastasaurus had a very short, toothless snout, unlike most other ichthyosaurs which had long snouts full of teeth.1
?When did Shastasaurus live?
Shastasaurus lived during the Late Triassic period, about 235 to 205 million years ago.1
?Where was Shastasaurus found?
Fossils of Shastasaurus have been found in the United States (California), Canada (British Columbia), and China.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Shastasaurus was a dinosaur.
Truth: Shastasaurus was an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that lived in the sea, not a dinosaur.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Shastasaurus
- Named by
- Merriam 18953
- Group
- Ichthyosaurs
- Family / clade
- Shastasauridae3
- Classification
- Ichthyosauria > Ichthyosauromorpha3
- Age of the rocks
- 237 to 206 million years (Carnian / Norian)3
- Rock formations
- Hosselkus, Antimonio, Pardonet3
- Countries
- USA, Mexico, Canada3
- Fossil records
- 10 in the Paleobiology Database3
- Discovery
- Shastasaurus was named by John C. Merriam in 1895 based on fossils found in Shasta County, California.13
- Still debated
- Scientists still debate whether the giant species Shastasaurus sikanniensis belongs in Shastasaurus or in the related genus Shonisaurus.1
Where the facts come from
- Shastasaurus (en.wikipedia.org)
- Short-snouted toothless ichthyosaur from China suggests Late Triassic diversification of suction feeding ichthyosaurs - PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Shastasaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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