EOSAUROPTERYGIA

Classification

Sauropterygia > Eosauropterygia

Discussion

The clade Eosauropterygia includes all sauropterygians excluding the placodonts. The placodonts are considered the most basal ('primitive') members of the clade Sauropterygia. The term 'basal sauropterygian' is often applied to non-plesiosaur sauropterygians. The skulls of a number of these basal sauropterygians are figured above (modified from Storrs, 1993). Scale - 1cm.