| Megapterygius Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
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| Artist Illustration (Pedosiren) of Megapterygius wakaymaensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| clade: | Mosasauria |
| Family: | †Mosasauridae |
| Genus: | †Megapterygius Konishi, 2023 |
| Species: | †M. wakayamaensis |
| Type species | |
| †Megapterygius wakayamaensis Konishi. 2023 | |
Megapterygius is an extinct genus of unique mosasaur found in 2023 from Late Cretaceous Japan. The type and only species of this genus is named M. wakayamaensis.
Description[]
This mosasaur bears some unique features unlike other mosasaurs like its proportionally long flippers. Some claim there is evidence of a dorsal fin present in this genus, but nothing definite has been found proving such claims.
Discovery[]
The holotype specimen, WMNH-Ge-1140240002, was discovered in sediments from the Toyajo Formation of Mt. Toyajo in Japan. The species name, wakayamaensis, is named from the prefecture where the specimen was discovered, the Wakayama Prefecture.
Gallery[]
Restoration by Hodari Nundu.
Paleoart of Megapterygius by PPaleoartist.
A size comparison of Megapterygius compared to a adult human by Takumi..
Art of Megapterygius by Seismic Shrimp.