GIANT PLIOSAUR PICS etc

[<darren.naish@port.ac.uk>]

Beri Krzcic wrote...

> I really, really look forward to seeing the newly prepped skull. I was
> reluctant submitting my Irritator/Angaturama for the article (based on
> the suggestion it was one and the same animal). When will we be able
> seeing the prepared specimen?

I am informed that the full osteology of the _Irritator_ skull has been 
submitted to JVP so should (in theory) appear in a few issues time. 
Hans-Dieter Sues is first author. Judging from the slides that Hans and 
Dave Martill have shown in their talks on the specimen, the paper 
should include some pretty awesome photos. I examined the specimen 
while it was being prepped in Germany: very neat, and much bigger 
than I was expecting.

WRT giant pliosaur article in DinoPress 4, Beri wrote...
 
> Nice article on giant pliosaurs. I've been waiting for such an updated
> information in one place for quite some time. I liked the drawing of
> Liopleurodon in a dynamic swimming pose. I understand the drawing is
> rather schematic, but the snout  was a bit different in shape.

Thanks for your kind words Beri.

The drawing is horribly innaccurate: the lower jaw is completely the 
wrong shape with the wrong number of symphyseal teeth, and where 
are the post-symphyseal teeth??? As is usually the case, we were 
rushed and needed a drawing of a big pliosaur ASAP. The picture I 
provided is actually an old T-shirt design. Funnily enough I was 
looking at real _Liopleurodon_ fossils last week so I wouldn't have the 
same excuse nowadays. And let me say: you have to see the type 
_Simolestes_ skull for real to appreciate what an awesome beast this 
was. Has to be my favourite marine reptile.

DARREN NAISH 
PALAEOBIOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
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