FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Libonectes were massive marine reptiles that lived in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They lived during the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco of the Late Cretaceous. Because there are only a few bones attributed to the Libonectes today, paleontologists have had a difficult time deducing information about its size, feeding habits, and reproductive functions. The majority of the information about the Libonectes is derived from data on other elasmosaurids. However, its skull was discovered in pristine condition and has been used to draw information about other elasmosaurid skulls. It is believed they were a kind of North American dinosaur genus of plesiosaur order. The skull of this Plesiosauria reptilia is also known to be recovered from Texas. Although, very little is known about this North American Sauropterygia specimen genus.
Since their discovery, marine biologists have been fascinated by evolution which has led to a major classification in their anatomy. Their skeleton remains can be compared to the new holotype of the elasmosaur.
To learn more about such interesting creatures make sure to check out our articles on Liopleurodon and Trinacromerum.
Libonectes were marine reptiles belonging to the Plesiosauria order, an extinct genus of Sauropterygia reptiles.
It's very easy to pronounce this marine reptile from Texas. In order to pronounce these reptilia from plesiosaur order, follow this simple guide 'LIBO-nects'.
The Libonectes was a large marine reptile that lived during the Cretaceous period. It grew to be about 32-43 ft (10-13 m) tall as an adult, according to Welles and based on data from other dinosaurs belonging to the Plesiosaur clade. These marine reptiles were initially classified as a subspecies of the Elasmosaurus family. Various descriptions by the media and research about other elasmosaurs supports this idea.
The existence of the Libonectes is estimated to have occurred between 90-80 million years ago. This corresponds to the Cretaceous period's Turonian and Campanian ages. Research on their fossils and distribution by Welles also points towards the same information.
Libonectes are believed to go extinct around 93.5 - 89.3 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period. The Cenomanian-Turonian axenic event wiped out the majority of marine fauna during this time period. This phenomenon is thought to have occurred as a result of increased oceanic volcanic activity. During the course of this event, most plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, and spinosaurus dinosuars were wiped out. Paleontologists believe that this cataclysmic event caused the extinction of the Libonectes.
The Libonectes was a massive marine reptile that was found in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as believed by Welles. These marine plesiosaurs are also related to several other dinosaur classes.
The dental layout of the Libonectes suggests a carnivorous lifestyle, however, the presence of gastroliths inside some known fossils of the Elasmosaurus suggests an omnivorous lifestyle. The presence of these gastroliths could also indicate that the Libonectes swallowed whole prey items, helping their classification. The Libonectes most likely hunted in deep waters, possibly eating small fish and ammonites because its size prevented it from frequenting shallow waters.
Cooperative hunting is a possibility if these animals moved in groups, or happened to be in groups, because even animals that don't live together will cooperate in a herd to cluster prey. Their fossil and neck indicate that they are related to current-day animals such as common dolphins and spinner dolphins.
Elasmosaurus dinosaurs could live for 10-12 years according to research conducted on its fossil by Buchy. It is predicted that the Libonectes could have had a similar lifespan.
These reptiles belonging to the plesiosaur clade laid eggs. This is the only known information about this elasmosaur.
This Plesiosauria had a long tail a very long neck. This is the same for other fossils of plesiosaurs marine reptiles. They had four flaps and neural spines.
Because Libonectes fossils were previously classified under the genus Elasmosarus, it can be assumed that the two species were related. The number of bones is not known.
Libonectes dinosaurs possibly communicated over long distances by using noisy displays at the water's surface. These could have been aggressive signals, territorial signals, or courtship signals.
The Libonectes dinosaur was a large marine reptile that lived during the Cretaceous period. It grew to be about 360-420 in (914- 1066 cm) tall as an adult. This Elasmosaur was around the same size as a whale shark and bowhead whale in today's world.
This Plesiosauria had a good support system in form of peddles, helping this marine creature swim fast.
Based on data from other plesiosaurs, its weight is estimated to have been between 2000-4000 lb (907- 1814 kg).
Research on the fossils of plesiosaurs indicates that both the male and female dinosaurs had the same anatomy. This means they are called the same names.
A baby Libonectes can be called a nestling or a hatchling.
Libonectes dinosaurs most likely hunted in deep waters, possibly eating small fish and ammonites, because their size prevented them from frequenting shallow waters. Gastroliths also suggest that the Libonectes swallowed its prey whole rather than tearing it apart. If its neck was truly rigid, ripping chunks from its catch would have been extremely difficult. The Libonectes was a slow swimmer that used its size to catch its prey. The teeth of the Libonectes were sharp and well-spaced. These were ideal for mollusk crushing and cephalopod capture.
Plesiosaurs may have formed social bonds but they may also have been aggressive, with some species acting aggressively toward conspecifics. There are a few large plesiosaur specimens with snout tips and flippers that appear to have been bitten by other, similar-sized plesiosaurs, so we may have direct evidence for this type of behavior.
Samuel Paul Welles was a vertebrate paleontologist from the United States. He helped to define the theropod dinosaur, Dilophosaurus. Carpenter K is a modern-day paleontologist from the United States. He is credited with coining the term 'Gojirasaurus'. He is the reason why we know so much about the fossils of this marine reptile from Texas.
The specific climate of these dinosaurs requires more research. There is not enough data to show whether it was endemic or not to a specific region.
Libonectes was an elasmosaurid plesiosaur with numerous specimens discovered in southern North America. It was discovered in the Britton Formation of Texas, USA, in the lower Turonian stage of the Late Cretaceous period from a single fossil specimen. The second specimen was found in the Akrabou Formation of Morocco. A 29 in (73.6 cm) long fossil Plesiosaur paddle from the Upper Cretaceous (Early Turonian Stage) was found in deposits near Goulmima, Morocco. The skull and neck, as well as gastroliths discovered with the fossil, make up the specimen. A pectoral girdle and flipper were also discovered, but they had been abandoned at some time. The neck vertebrae had a different structure because the amphicoelous anterior cervical vertebrae had taller neural spines and longer bone supporting processes, and its nostrils were slightly closer to the tip of the skull.
'Libo' is derived from the Greek, meaning 'southern', and 'Nectes' is also a Greek word, meaning 'swimmer'. The meaning of Libonectes is 'southern swimmer'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly prehistoric animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Piatnitzkysaurus fun facts and Gallimimus facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Libonectes coloring pages.
Main image by Nobu Tamura
Second image by Hyrotrioskjan
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At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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