Organism · Reptiles including birds
Placodus gigas
Source time context (not species duration) · ≈ 252–201 Ma
Inferred life reconstruction
Placodus gigas
Overview
Placodus gigas was a Middle Triassic marine reptile known for large crushing teeth. A review describes a heavy body, long tail, and robust front teeth. Its conspicuous teeth raise questions about food.[1][2]
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Key facts
Robust teeth at the front and crushing teeth farther inside have different arrangements. Considering tooth positions and shapes together helps distinguish food-processing structures.[1][2]
Time and place
It is known from Middle Triassic material in Europe. The Triassic as a whole spans approximately 250–200 million years ago. Its marine reptile body and teeth have been compared in several studies.[1][3]
The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.
Size, form and skeleton
A review presents Placodus as having a heavy body, long tail, and robust front teeth. Species-specific research describes large crushing dentition. The broad body outline and small internal jaw structures provide different features.[1][2]
Placodus gigas was reconstructed at a body length of 3 m in Darren Naish’s 2004 account of placodonts. This represents the whole body including the tail.[4]
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Habitat and reproduction
What did Placodus eat with its large crushing teeth? A 2024 tooth-wear study also discussed the possibility of feeding on macroalgae. It examines dietary hypotheses through traces of tooth wear.[1]
Fossil discovery
A 2004 account of placodonts summarized Placodus body form and teeth. In 2024, research used complex tooth-wear analysis to examine dietary changes. Questions expanded from descriptions of appearance to traces of tooth use.[1][2]
References
Research questions
Do tooth shape and wear convey the same information? One provides clues to the arrangement of hard structures; the other records changes left by use. Several kinds of evidence can be used to examine dietary hypotheses.[1]
Observation
Consider the robust front teeth and crushing dentition before moving your gaze to the trunk and long tail. Compare different tooth arrangements alongside the broad body outline.[1][2]
Related organisms
Hupehsuchus nanchangensisReptiles including birdsSource time context (not species duration) · ≈ 252–201 MaDifferent bodies among marine reptiles
Compare the bodies and backgrounds of Placodus gigas and Hupehsuchus nanchangensis. Placodus gigas: a Middle Triassic marine reptile known for large crushing teeth; a review describes a heavy body, long tail, and robust front teeth. Hupehsuchus nanchangensis: an Early Triassic marine reptile with a long snout and neck and a relatively deep trunk. A skeleton extending from the head to the limbs and front of the tail has been studied.