Dino card No. 0428 of 2,027

Clidastes

Say it: kly-DAS-teez

Name means: “locked vertebrae”1

Ate: MeatMosasaursLate CretaceousNot technically a dinosaur

Clidastes was a small, speedy marine lizard that lived in the Late Cretaceous seas. It was one of the smallest mosasaurs, but it was a fast swimmer that chased down fish and squid in shallow waters.1

Fun fact: this sea reptile swam while dinosaurs walked on land. Everyone calls them dinos, but they were a different branch of reptiles.

Lived

94 to 66 million years ago3

Late Cretaceous

Fossils found in

United States (Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, Texas), Sweden, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Jordan1 3

Food

Meat1 3

Length

2 to 6.2 m1

most specimens average 2 to 4 m, largest up to 6.2 m

When did it live?

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

252 million years ago20114566, the asteroid

How big was it?

as long as 3 bicycles in a rowas long as 34 bananas end to end

How big was Clidastes compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

cool stuff

Fun facts

Clidastes had special vertebrae that locked together, making its spine strong and stable for fast swimming.1

It was one of the smallest mosasaurs, only 2 to 4 meters long on average, but some grew up to 6.2 meters.1

Isotope studies on its teeth suggest Clidastes sometimes entered freshwater, like modern sea snakes.1

The first Clidastes fossils were found in Alabama in 1869 by E. D. Cope, and they were beautifully preserved.1

Its tail had extra-strong bones and muscles, which helped it chase down the fastest prey.1

Some scientists think that only one species, Clidastes propython, is valid, but others recognize more.1

AI-made picture of Clidastes — An AI-made picture of how Clidastes might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Clidastes

?Was Clidastes a dinosaur?

No, Clidastes was a marine lizard, not a dinosaur. It belonged to a group called mosasaurs, which are reptiles that lived in the sea.1 2

?How big was Clidastes?

Clidastes was one of the smallest mosasaurs, averaging 2 to 4 metres (6.6 to 13.1 feet) long. The largest specimens reached about 6.2 metres (20 feet).1 2

?What did Clidastes eat?

Clidastes likely ate cephalopods (like squid), fish, and other small vertebrates. It hunted in shallow water.1 2

?Could Clidastes swim in freshwater?

Yes, isotope studies on its teeth suggest Clidastes sometimes entered freshwater, similar to modern sea snakes.1

Ask Rex about Clidastes

Rex only answers questions about this page. 3 questions a day.

Rex is an AI and can make mistakes. He runs on servers in the EU and questions are never saved. Never type your name or other personal things.

For dino experts

Scientific name: Clidastes
Named by: Cope 18683
Group: Mosasaurs
Family / clade: Mosasauridae3
Classification: Mosasauroidea3
Age of the rocks: 94 to 66 million years (Turonian / Maastrichtian)3
Rock formations: Mooreville Chalk, Niobrara, Pierre Shale3
Countries: USA, Sweden, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Jordan3
Fossil records: 34 in the Paleobiology Database3
Discovery: E. D. Cope named Clidastes in 1868, and in 1869 he found the first good fossils in the Mooreville Chalk of Alabama.1 3
Still debated: Scientists debate whether fossils from Europe and Jordan really belong to Clidastes or to other mosasaurs.1

Where the facts come from

Clidastes (en.wikipedia.org)
Clidastes Facts for Kids (kids.kiddle.co)
Clidastes in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at hello@dinowiki.app and we will fix it.

Rex is hungry! Dino Wiki is a dad's project for his dino-loving son, free with no ads. Grown-ups can feed Rex a snack to help keep it online.Feed Rex