Sthenarosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Sthenarosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 175 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 175 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 | 184.2–174.7 million years ago (Toarcian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Named by | Watson 1909 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United Kingdom |
| Rock formations | Alum Shale |
About Sthenarosaurus
Sthenarosaurus (meaning "strong lizard") is an extinct genus of rhomaleosaurid pliosauroid discovered in the Toarcian-aged 'Main Alum Shale' (Commune subzone of Bifrons zone) in Whitby, England. The type species, Sthenarosaurus dawkinsi, was named and described in 1909 by D. M. S. Watson. The type specimen is MMUM LL 8023, a set of postcrania discovered in Whitby. Other indeterminate specimens are known, including a pectoral girdle (pictured in taxobox) described in 1911. Plesiosaurian fossils were acquired for the Manchester Museum by William Boyd Dawkins who is honoured by the specific name.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Sthenarosaurus (revision 1300086417), 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: Q7616093.
