Liopleurodon

Overwhelming Jaw Power and Hunting Secrets

Liopleurodon was a plesiosaur with a short neck and a large head, a body shape similar to Mosasaurus.

A Plesiosaur with a Body Shape Similar to Mosasaurus.

Powerful Weaponry

Its main features were its rows of sharp teeth and powerful jaws.
It is believed to have used this sturdy jaw to crush hard ammonites into pieces and voraciously attack anything it saw, including its own kind.

Astonishing Agility

It has been proven that it gained significant propulsion by using its four large flippers, despite its barrel-like body shape.
It was a ferocious hunter that used its excellent sight and sense of smell to locate prey and capture it by swimming at high speeds through the water.

A Ferocious Hunter Swimming at High Speeds in the Sea.

The “Largest Ever” Debate and Its True Size

Liopleurodon became famous after being featured in the BBC documentary Walking with Dinosaurs.

The Ultra-Giant Theory

The program depicted it as an ultra-giant creature, reaching 25m in length and weighing 150 tons—a size comparable to a blue whale.

The Downward-Revised Truth

However, as research has progressed, its maximum size has been significantly revised downward, with 5m to 7m considered the appropriate length.
Although a definitive conclusion has not been reached due to the extremely small number of individuals found, some scientists believe the average size was less than 10m.

Despite the downward revision of its length, its status as the apex predator of its era has not changed due to its aggressive nature, powerful jaw, and excellent senses.

Ecology and Rivals

Liopleurodon ruled the Jurassic seas for a long time but disappeared during the period when the closely related plesiosaur Pliosaurus is thought to have flourished.