Germanosaurus

Germanosaurus lived during the early Middle Triassic, about 247 million years ago, in what is now Poland.1

The first fossils of Germanosaurus were found in the Gogolin Formation, which was once a shallow sea.1

The type species, Germanosaurus latissimus, was originally named as a species of Nothosaurus in 1891.1

The original skull of Germanosaurus latissimus was lost, possibly during World War II, so scientists are not sure if it is a valid species.1

Another species, Germanosaurus schafferi, is considered the only valid species because its skull is still preserved.1

Germanosaurus had a constricted snout and a relatively short, broad rostrum, which helped it catch prey.2