Pholidosaurus

Pholidosaurus is an extinct genus of marine crocodile that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Fossils attributed to this genus have been found in England and potentially other European locations. It belonged to the family Pholidosauridae, a group of long-snouted, slender-bodied crocodylomorphs that were adapted to a marine environment. These animals were likely predatory, feeding on fish and other marine organisms. The exact phylogenetic position of Pholidosaurus within the crocodylomorph lineage is still a subject of scientific debate, with some researchers placing it closer to modern crocodiles and others suggesting it represents a more basal lineage. The genus is known from fragmentary remains, including skull elements and osteoderms. The name Pholidosaurus comes from Greek words meaning "scale lizard," referring to the distinctive pattern of its armor. While once considered a widespread and diverse genus, many specimens previously assigned to Pholidosaurus are now classified into other, more distinct genera. Therefore, the understanding of Pholidosaurus itself is based on a limited but significant fossil record that provides insights into the diversity of marine reptiles during the Mesozoic Era.