Dragons of Sea and Air 



the same, various portions, or strata, have their 

 own peculiar animals. 



The most characteristic feature of the life 

 of the sea was the presence of numerous large 

 reptiles called mosasaurs, from the name Mosa- 

 sauruSj or lizard of the Meuse, given to the first 

 described species. These animals had a long, 

 pointed head, 4 short swimming paddles, and a 

 long, powerful, compressed tail, something like 

 that of a salamander on a very large scale. 

 This tail was the principal agent in locomotion, 

 although the paddles undoubtedly helped. The 

 animal possessed no armor, for the body was 

 covered with small horny scales, as in modern 

 reptiles. There were several kinds, or genera, 

 of these creatures ranging in size from 6 to 45 

 feet in length,* although examples over 25 feet 

 long are rare, and those 15 feet long may be 

 considered large. Mosasaurs abounded in the 

 waters of the inland sea, for hundreds, if not 



* Here, as usual, the size has been vastly overestimated, and 

 by people who should know better. Statements are current to the 

 effect that mosasaurs attained a length of 75 feet, but Professor 

 Williston, who has made a careful study of the group, says that 

 there is not a specimen in existence indicating an animal over 

 45 feet long. 



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