Wapitisaurus
Extinct genus of marine reptiles / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wapitisaurus is an extinct genus of thalattosaur from the Early Triassic. Its type and only species is Wapitisaurus problematicus. Its remains were discovered in the Vega-Phroso Member of the Sulphur Mountain Formation in British Columbia, Canada.[1]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Type species ...
Wapitisaurus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | †Thalattosauria |
Superfamily: | †Thalattosauroidea |
Genus: | †Wapitisaurus Brinkman, 1988 |
Type species | |
Wapitisaurus problematicus Brinkman, 1988 |
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Wapitisaurus was originally described as a member of Weigeltisauridae, a family of gliding reptiles that otherwise is only known from the Permian period.[1] However, subsequent study determined it was a member of Thalattosauria, a group of unusual marine reptiles that lived during the Triassic period.[2] The length of Wapitisaurus has been estimated to be between 1 and 1.9 metres (3.3 and 6.2 ft), similar to other thalattosaurs.[2]