Paludidraco is an extinct genus of nothosaur that lived in Spain during the Late Triassic.
Description[]
Paludidraco is closely related to Simosaurus, and is only differentiated by the wideness of its jaws and its body plan. Paludidraco was a stocky animal, with wide jaws built for filter-feeding. Paludidraco had 15 pre-maxillary teeth, and has expanded ribs. The vertebrae and zygapophyses are thickened.
Paleoecology[]
Like all nothosaurs, Paludidraco was able to surface on land for a short while, then return to the ocean. Paludidraco may have scooped sand through its teeth in search of small animals to devour. Paludidraco's teeth were very weak, and not able to eat marine plants. Paludidraco may have had a low energy lifestyle, eating animal and plant matter smal enough not to break it's teeth.