Peloneustes

Genus:
Peloneustes
Genus author:
Lydekker, 1889
Classification:
Age:
Callovian, Middle Jurassic
Location:
UK
Referred material (sp.):
-
Type species:

P. philarchus

Peloneustes is one of several pliosaur genera from the Oxford Clay Formation in the UK. It is one of the better known pliosaurs from this horizon, represented by 12 nearly complete skulls and several skeletons. It is also the most abundant pliosaur from the Peterborough Member of the Oxford Clay Formation (Ketchum and Benson 2011b). Peloneustes is characterised by an elongate mandibular symphysis which contains 13-15 pairs of teeth, but the exact number varies within the species (Tarlo, 1960, Ketchum and Benson 2011b).

The type specimen of P. philarchus (Seeley 1869) is CAMSM J.46913, a partial skeleton including the rostrum of the skull.

Reconstruction of the skeleton of Peloneustes in lateral view. From Andrews (1913)
Referred specimen of Peloneustes in the Tubingen Museum, Germany.
Referred specimen of Peloneustes in the Tubingen Museum, Germany.
Skull of Peloneustes (from Ketchum and Benson 2011b).
Referred specimen of Peloneustes.
Holotype specimen of Peloneustes (from Tarlo 1960).
Referred specimen of Peloneustes in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Peloneustes painting by Dzenek Burian.
Peloneustes model – plaster cast produced by the Rev. H. Neville Hutchinson (1922).
Peloneustes model – plaster cast produced by the Rev. H. Neville Hutchinson (1922).