Thalassodromeus
Thalassodromeus was a huge flying reptile with a giant, bony crest on its head. It lived about 110 million years ago in what is now Brazil. Scientists think it may have skimmed over water to catch fish, like a modern skimmer bird.21
When did it live?
How big was it?
How long was it?
How big was Thalassodromeus compared to YOU?
Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Fun facts
The skull of Thalassodromeus was huge, measuring 1.42 metres (4.7 feet) long, including its crest.1
Its crest was well supplied with blood vessels, which may have helped control body temperature or been used for display.21
Thalassodromeus had strong jaw muscles and could probably kill and eat relatively large prey on the ground.2
The first fossil of Thalassodromeus was collected in 1983 near the town of Santana do Cariri in Brazil.1
Thalassodromeus lived alongside many other pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and fish in a tropical lagoon environment.2
Its name comes from Greek words meaning 'sea runner', because scientists first thought it skimmed the ocean for food.1
Most asked questions about Thalassodromeus
?How big was Thalassodromeus?
Thalassodromeus had a skull about 1.42 metres long and a wingspan of 4.2 to 4.5 metres.2
?What did Thalassodromeus eat?
Scientists think Thalassodromeus may have skimmed over water to catch fish, like a modern skimmer bird. It also had strong jaws and could probably kill and eat large prey on the ground.21
?Why did Thalassodromeus have a crest?
The crest likely helped control body temperature by releasing heat, and it was also used for display to attract mates or recognize other members of its species.21
?Was Thalassodromeus a dinosaur?
No, Thalassodromeus was a pterosaur, a flying reptile that lived during the time of dinosaurs but was not a dinosaur.2
?When did Thalassodromeus live?
Thalassodromeus lived about a hundred million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.2
?What does Thalassodromeus mean?
Its name means 'sea runner' in Greek, because scientists first thought it skimmed the ocean for food.2
Ask Rex about Thalassodromeus
Rex only answers questions about this page. 10 questions a month.
Rex is an AI and can make mistakes. He runs on servers in the EU and questions are never saved. Never type your name or other personal things.
Myth buster
Myth: Thalassodromeus was a dinosaur.
Truth: Thalassodromeus was a pterosaur, a flying reptile that is not a dinosaur.2
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Thalassodromeus
- Named by
- Kellner and Campos 20023
- Group
- Flying reptiles
- Family / clade
- Thalassodromidae3
- Classification
- Pterosauria > Pterodactyloidea3
- Age of the rocks
- 120 to 113 million years (Aptian)3
- Rock formations
- Romualdo3
- Countries
- Brazil3
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database3
- Discovery
- Thalassodromeus was named by Alexander Kellner and Diogenes de Almeida Campos in 2002, based on a skull found in 1983 in the Romualdo Formation of Brazil.31
- Still debated
- Scientists still debate whether Thalassodromeus actually fed by skimming water like a modern skimmer bird, or if it caught prey on land.2
Where the facts come from
- doc.rero.ch (doc.rero.ch)
- Thalassodromeus (en.wikipedia.org)
- Thalassodromeus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
Rex is hungry! Dino Wiki is a dad's project for his dino-loving son, free with no ads. Grown-ups can feed Rex a snack to help keep it online.Feed Rex
Pteranodon
Quetzalcoatlus
Dorygnathus
Rhamphorhynchus
Anhanguera
Pterodactylus
Stegosaurus
Iguanodon
Archaeopteryx
Giganotosaurus
Microraptor
Deinonychus