Plioplatecarpus was a very close relative to the living monitor lizard. It is a marine animal that lived in the Western Interior Pierre Seaway. Its bites have been attributed to corresponding holes in ammonites, such as Placenticeras. It undoubtedly ate other ammonites as well, including Baculites, Scaphites, and Pachydiscidae. and fed on fish and other reptiles it could catch in the ocean. It was most likely a very powerful swimmer, that propelled itself by means of its tail – not its flippers. It has been found hundreds of miles from known shorelines. Contemporaries of this mososaur are other reptiles, including Elasmosaurus, Archelon, Toxochelys, and Pteranodon, and the bird, Hesperornis.

Our Plioplatecarpus skull is mounted on a steel base, ready for display! In addition to the main biting teeth, there are also pterygoid, or “throat teeth” used for holding prey until it could be gulped down. Consider purchasing a cast of our Placenticeras meeki with mososaur bite marks, as an addition to your exhibit.