Liopleurodon fossil map
Where fossils of Liopleurodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 160 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 160 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Plesiosaurs & kin |
|---|---|
| Lived | 165.3–137.05 million years ago (Callovian to Berriasian) |
| Periods | Jurassic, Cretaceous |
| Family | Pliosauridae |
| Named by | Sauvage 1873 |
| Fossil records | 13 occurrences at 12 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | UK, Germany, France, Argentina |
| Rock formations | Oxford Clay, Ornatenton, Ampthill Clay, Vaca Muerta, Marnes de Dives, Argiles de Montaubert |
About Liopleurodon
Liopleurodon (; meaning 'smooth-sided teeth') is an extinct genus of carnivorous pliosaurid plesiosaurs that lived from the Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic to the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic period (approximately 166 to 155 million years ago). The type species is L. ferox, which is probably the only valid species. Although some studies still recognize L. pachydeirus, it is generally considered as a junior synonym of the type species due to the lack of a clear diagnosis. Fossils attributed to Liopleurodon, including some skeletons, are mainly known from Europe, with one occurrence reported in Mexico. As the holotype specimen of L. ferox consists of a single tooth with questionable distinguishing features, several recent studies recommend the designation a more complete neotype to preserve its validity. Additional species were proposed, but these are currently viewed as belonging to other pliosaurid genera.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Liopleurodon (revision 1377633441), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
