Teleosauroidea

Teleosauroidea is a group of marine reptiles that lived during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods, approximately 237 to 175 million years ago. They are characterized by their elongated, streamlined bodies, which were adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Teleosauroidea includes two main families: Teleosauridae and Nothosauroidea.

Teleosauridae is the most diverse and well-known group within Teleosauroidea. They are distinguished by their long, slender bodies, large eyes, and the presence of a single row of teeth. Teleosaurs were likely active predators, using their streamlined bodies to swim and their sharp teeth to catch prey. Some species, like Euparkeria, had elongated necks and may have been filter feeders.

Nothosauroidea, on the other hand, are less diverse and have a more robust build compared to Teleosauridae. They are known for their large, flat teeth, which were likely used for crushing hard-shelled prey. Nothosauroidea includes genera like Nothosaurus and Steneosaurus.

Teleosauroidea went extinct at the end of the Early Jurassic, likely due to competition from other marine reptiles and the changing environmental conditions of the time. Despite their extinction, Teleosauroidea played a significant role in the evolution of marine reptiles, paving the way for the rise of marine dinosaurs and other marine reptiles in the Mesozoic era.