Rhaeticosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Rhaeticosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 201 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 201 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 | 205.7–201.4 million years ago (Rhaetian) |
| Periods | Triassic |
| Named by | Wintrich et al. 2017 |
| Fossil records | 1 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Germany |
| Rock formations | Exter |
About Rhaeticosaurus
Rhaeticosaurus (meaning 'Rhaetian lizard') is an extinct genus of basal pliosauroid from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) rocks of the Exter Formation. The type and only species, R. mertensi, was named by Wintrich et al. in 2017. It is known from a partial articulated skeleton.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Rhaeticosaurus (revision 1314717414), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q45424597.
