Swimming paddle of a Pliosaur found in Kimmeridgian sediment, dating 155 million years ago in Dorset, UK. Pliosaurs were marine reptiles that lived during the Late Jurassic. Like plesiosaurs, Pliosaurs had 4 limbs of equal power which they used in the manner of underwater flight unique in the animal kingdom. Since all 4 limbs have similar sizes and characteristics, it is unclear whether this paddle is a forelimb or a hindlimb. Collection Jean-Philippe et Francois-Xavier Blouet, paleontologists.

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Photo credit: © PASCAL GOETGHELUCK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: -, animal, biological, biology, carnivore, carnivorous, dorset, epoch, extinct, fauna, jurassic, kimmeridgian, kingdom, late, limbs, marine, nature, paddle, palaeontological, palaeontology, palaeozoology, paleontological, paleontology, paleozoology, pliosaur, pliosaurus, prehistoric, prehistory, reptile, sp., swimming, uk, underwater, united, water, wildlife, zoological, zoology