Phalarodon

Phalarodon's name means 'boss tooth' because its teeth look like the boss on a helmet cheek-plate.1

It lived during the Middle Triassic, about 247 to 242 million years ago, when the supercontinent Pangaea was still together.1

Phalarodon could swim across the Tethys Ocean, as shown by fossils found in both Germany and China, which were on opposite sides of that ancient sea.1

Its skull had a high ridge on top called a sagittal crest, which helped anchor strong jaw muscles for a powerful bite.1

Some scientists think Phalarodon atavus had a skull up to 80 centimetres (2.6 feet) long, making it a large mixosaurid, but others say the fossils are too broken to be sure.1

Phalarodon shared its home with other marine reptiles like Cymbospondylus and Omphalosaurus in the Fossil Hill Member of Nevada.1

The teeth of Phalarodon were blunt and slightly flattened, perfect for crushing hard-shelled prey like ammonites.1