The Ancient Mesosaurus

Where have Mesosaurus fossils been found?

• South America and Africa

• North America and Europe

• Asia and Australia

• Antarctica and Greenland

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What does the name 'Mesosaurus' mean?

• Middle lizard

• Ancient crocodile

• Water reptile

• Long-tailed lizard

How long ago did Mesosaurus live?

• About 300 million years ago

• About 100 million years ago

• About 500 million years ago

• About 50 million years ago

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What feature of Mesosaurus helped it breathe while mostly submerged?

• Nostrils located high up

• Gills for underwater breathing

• Lungs with extra capacity

• Specialized skin for oxygen absorption

Why couldn't Mesosaurus swim long distances?

• Their bodies weren’t built for it

• They had no fins

• They were too heavy

• They needed to stay near food sources

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What was the approximate length of a Mesosaurus?

• 1 meter (3.3 feet)

• 2 meters (6.6 feet)

• 0.5 meters (1.6 feet)

• 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)

What can Mesosaurus fossils teach scientists?

• Earth’s history

• Future climate patterns

• Modern reptile behavior

• Ocean currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2