What is Pistosaurus?
{{Taxobox |name = ''Pistosaurus'' |fossil_range = Mid [[Triassic]] |image=Pistosaurus_BW.jpg |image_width=250px |image_caption = ''Pistosaurus longaevus'' from the middle Triassic of Europe |regnum = [[Animal]]ia |phylum = [[Chordata]] |classis = [[Sauropsida]] |superordo = [[Sauropterygia]] |familia = [[Pistosauridae]] |genus = '''''Pistosaurus''''' }} '''Pistosaurus''' is a [[genus]] of [[Ocean|marine]] [[sauropterygia]]n [[reptile]]s. It is a [[Nothosaur]], a relative of the [[plesiosaur]]s. ''Pistosaurus'' was a advanced [[nothosaur]]-like body with a plesiosaur-like head. Is presently known only from the Middle [[Triassic]]. Even if it is a nothosaur it is acknowledged to be closely related to the ancestors of plesiosaurs. The head also resembled that of a plesiosaur, but with the primitive [[palate]]<ref>bone covering roof of mouth.</ref> of a nothosaur, and numerous, sharp teeth ideal for catching and eating fish.<ref name=EoDP>{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall illustrated encyclopedia of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000unse_y8e7|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 73|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}</ref> Although it is unlikely that ''Pistosaurus'' was a direct ancestor of the plesiosaurs, the mixture of features suggests that it was closely related to that group.<ref name=EoDP/> == References == {{Reflist}} {{biology-stub}} [[category:Sauropterygia]]