teleosauroids

Teleosauroids are an extinct group of marine reptiles belonging to the order Crocodylomorpha. They are characterized by their long, slender snouts and their adaptation to a marine or semi-aquatic lifestyle. These reptiles lived during the Mesozoic Era, primarily from the Early Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous periods. Their fossils are found in marine deposits across the globe, indicating a wide distribution.

Teleosauroids exhibit a range of snout morphologies, from needle-like to broader forms, suggesting diverse feeding strategies. Some species likely fed on fish and invertebrates, while others may have been more generalized predators. Their bodies were generally elongated, and they possessed powerful tails for propulsion through the water. Forelimbs were typically shorter than hind limbs, and while they may have retained some terrestrial ability, they were primarily adapted for aquatic life.

The evolutionary history of teleosauroids shows them as a successful group of mesoeucrocodylian crocodylomorphs. They coexisted with other marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs. Their eventual extinction, along with many other marine reptile groups, is often linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, though the exact causes for their decline are still debated among paleontologists. The group includes families such as Teleosauridae and Metriorhynchidae, with notable genera including Steneosaurus and Metriorhynchus.