# Dakosaurus

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{{Short description|Metriorhynchid reptile genus from the Late Jurassic / Early Cretaceous period}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = <br/>[Late Jurassic](/source/Late_Jurassic) - [Early Cretaceous](/source/Early_Cretaceous),<br/>{{Fossil range|157|137}}
| image = Dakosaurus maximus.JPG
| image_caption = ''D. maximus'' neotype SMNS 8203, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Dakosaurus
| authority = [von Quenstedt](/source/Friedrich_August_von_Quenstedt), 1856<ref name="Quenstedt, 1856">Quenstedt FA. 1856. ''Sonst und Jetzt: Populäre Vortäge über Geologie''. Tübingen: Laupp, 131.</ref>
| type_species = {{extinct}}'''''[Geosaurus](/source/Geosaurus) maximus'''''
| type_species_authority = [Plieninger](/source/Theodor_Plieninger_(paleontologist)), 1846
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision =
* {{extinct}}'''''Dakosaurus maximus'''''<br/><small> (Plieninger, 1846<ref name="Plieninger, 1846">Plieninger T. 1846. Prof. Dr. Th. Plieninger hielt nachstehenden vortrag über ein neues Sauriergenus und die Einreihung der Saurier mit flachen, schneidenden Zähnen in eine Familie. Pp. 148-154 in: ''Zweite Generalversammlung am 1. Mai 1846 zu Tübingen''. ''Württembergische naturwissenschaftliche Jahreshefte'' '''2''': 129-183.</ref>)</small>
* {{extinct}}'''''Dakosaurus andiniensis''''' <small>Vignaud & Gasparini, 1996<ref name="Vignaud & Gasparini, 1996"/></small>
| synonyms = 
*''Dacosaurus'' <small>Sauvage, 1873 (''[sic](/source/sic)'')</small><ref name="Sauvage, 1873" /><ref>Sauvage, H.-É., (1882), "Recherches sur les reptiles trouvés dans le Gault de l'est du bassin de Paris", ''Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France, série 3'' '''2'''(4): 1-42</ref>
*''[Geosaurus](/source/Geosaurus) maximus'' <small>Plieninger, 1846</small><ref name="Plieninger, 1846" />
*''[Megalosaurus](/source/Megalosaurus) schnaitheimi'' <small>[Bunzel](/source/Emanuel_Bunzel), 1871 (in part)</small><ref name=Bunzel1871>{{cite journal |last=Bunzel |first=Emanuel |year=1871 |title=Die Reptilfauna der Gosauformation in der Neuen Welt bei Wiener-Neustadt |journal=Abhandlungen der Kaiserlich-königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt |volume=5 |pages=1–18 |url=http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/AbhGeolBA_5_0001-0018.pdf |access-date=11 September 2013|language=de}}</ref>
}}

'''''Dakosaurus''''' is an [extinct](/source/extinct) [genus](/source/genus) of [crocodylomorph](/source/crocodylomorph) within the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Metriorhynchidae](/source/Metriorhynchidae) that lived during the [Late Jurassic](/source/Late_Jurassic) and [Early Cretaceous](/source/Early_Cretaceous). It was large, with teeth that were [serrated](/source/serrated_edge) and compressed lateromedially (flattened from side to side). The genus was established by [Friedrich August von Quenstedt](/source/Friedrich_August_von_Quenstedt) in 1856 for an isolated tooth named ''Geosaurus maximus'' by [Theodor Plieninger](/source/Theodor_Plieninger_(paleontologist)) in 1846.<ref name="Plieninger, 1846" /> ''Dakosaurus'' was a [carnivore](/source/carnivore) that spent much, if not all, of its life out at sea. The extent of its adaptation to a marine lifestyle means that it is most likely that it mated at sea, but since no eggs or nests have been discovered that have been referred to ''Dakosaurus'', whether it gave birth to live young at sea like [dolphin](/source/dolphin)s and [ichthyosaur](/source/Ichthyosauria)s or came ashore like [turtle](/source/turtle)s is not known yet. The name ''Dakosaurus'' means "biter lizard", and is derived from the [Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) ''{{lang|grc-Latn|dakos}}'' ("biter") and {{lang|grc|σαῦρος}} -''{{lang|grc-Latn|sauros}}'' ("lizard").

== Discovery and species ==
thumb|upright|left|''D. andiniensis'' specimen MOZ 6146P. 
thumb|left|''D. maximus'' specimen SMNS 82043. 
The [type species](/source/type_species) ''Dakosaurus maximus'', meaning "greatest biter lizard", is known from [fossil](/source/fossil) discoveries in Western Europe (England, France, Switzerland and Germany) of the Late Jurassic (Late [Kimmeridgian](/source/Kimmeridgian)-Early [Tithonian](/source/Tithonian)).<ref name="Steel, 1973"/><ref name="Fraas, 1902">Fraas E. 1902. Die Meer-Krocodilier (Thalattosuchia) des oberen Jura unter specieller Berücksichtigung von ''Dacosaurus'' und ''Geosaurus''. ''Paleontographica'' '''49''': 1-72.</ref>

When isolated ''Dakosaurus'' teeth were first discovered in [Germany](/source/Germany), they were mistaken for belonging to the [theropod](/source/theropod) [dinosaur](/source/dinosaur) ''[Megalosaurus](/source/Megalosaurus)''.<ref name="Quenstedt, 1843">Quenstedt FA. 1843. ''Das Flötzgebirge Württembergs: mit besonderer rücksicht auf den Jura''. Tübingen: Laupp, 493.</ref> The type species ''D. maximus'' was originally named as a species of ''Geosaurus'' in 1846 by [Theodor Plieninger](/source/Theodor_Plieninger_(paleontologist)), creating the species ''G. maximus''.<ref name="Plieninger, 1846" />

In 1856 von Quenstedt made Plieninger's ''Geosaurus maximus'' teeth a new genus with the name ''Dakosaurus''. He explained the etymology as Greek ''dakos'' "Biss" [bite] in 1858 in German, adding "denn wenige kommen seinem furchtbaren Gebiss gleich" [for few can match its terrible set of teeth].<ref name="Quenstedt, 1858">Quenstedt FA. 1858. ''Der Jura''. Tübingen: Laupp, 842 pp.(pgs. 785-786)</ref> He gave the meaning of Greek ''dakos'' more correctly as "Beisser" [biter] in another description in 1859 in which he classified ''Dakosaurus'' as a dinosaur.<ref name="Quenstedt, 1859">Quenstedt FA. 1859. ''Handbuch der Petrefaktenkunde''. Tübingen: Laupp, 1239 pp.</ref>

Named in 1871 by [Emanuel Bunzel](/source/Emanuel_Bunzel),<ref name=Bunzel1871 /> the remains attributed to ''[Megalosaurus](/source/Megalosaurus) schnaitheimi'' (found in [Schnaitheim](/source/Heidenheim_an_der_Brenz), [Germany](/source/Germany)) are now believed to have belonged to ''Dakosaurus maximus'' as per Carrano ''et al.'' (2012).<ref>Carrano, M.T.; Benson, R.B.J.; & Sampson, S.D. (2012). "The phylogeny of Tetanurae (Dinosauria: Theropoda)". ''Journal of Systematic Palaeontology'' 10(2): 211–300</ref>

Fossil specimens referrable to ''Dakosaurus'' are known from Late Jurassic deposits from [England](/source/England), [France](/source/France), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland), [Germany](/source/Germany),<ref name="Steel, 1973">Steel R. 1973. Crocodylia. ''Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie, Teil 16''. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag,116 pp.</ref> [Poland](/source/Poland),<ref name="Radwańska & Radwański, 2003">Radwańska U, Radwański A. 2003. The Jurassic crinoid genus ''Cyclocrinus'' D'Orbigny, 1850: still an enigma. ''Acta Geologica Polonica'' '''53''' (2003),(4): 301-320.</ref> [Russia](/source/Russia),<ref name="Ochev, 1981">Ochev VG. 1981. [Marine crocodiles in the Mesozoic of Povolzh'e] ''Priroda'' 1981: 103</ref> [Argentina](/source/Argentina),<ref name="Vignaud & Gasparini, 1996">Vignaud P, Gasparini ZB. 1996. New ''Dakosaurus'' (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) from the Upper Jurassic of Argentina. ''Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences de Paris, Series II'' '''322''': 245-250.</ref> and [Mexico](/source/Mexico).<ref name="Buchy''et al.'', 2007">Buchy M-C, Stinnesbeck W, Frey E, Gonzalez AHG. 2007. First occurrence of the genus ''Dakosaurus'' (Crocodyliformes, Thalattosuchia) in the Late Jurassic of Mexico. ''Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France'' '''178''' (5): 391-397.</ref> Teeth referrable to ''Dakosaurus'' are known from Europe from the [Oxfordian](/source/Oxfordian_stage).<ref name="BM(NH), 1993">BM(NH), Trustees of the. 1983. ''British Mesozoic Fossils, sixth edition''. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd., 209 pp.</ref><ref name="Benton & Spence, 1995">Benton MJ, Spencer PS. 1995. ''Fossil Reptiles of Great Britain''. London: Chapman and Hall, 386 pp.</ref>

''Dacosaurus'' (Sauvage, 1873) is a misspelling of ''Dakosaurus'', and thus a synonym.<ref name="Sauvage, 1873">Sauvage HE. (1873). Notes sur les reptiles, fossiles. ''Bulletin de la Société Géologiques de France, série 3'': 365-384.</ref>

''Dakosaurus andiniensis'', meaning "biter lizard from the Andes", was first reported in 1985 from the [Neuquén](/source/Neuqu%C3%A9n) Basin, a very rich fossil bed in the [Vaca Muerta](/source/Vaca_Muerta), Argentina. However, it was not until 1996 that the binomen ''Dakosaurus andiniensis'' was erected.<ref name="Vignaud & Gasparini, 1996"/> Two later discovered skulls, the specimina MOZ 6146P and MOZ 6140P, have indicated that ''D. andiniensis'' is unique among the metriorhynchids (the family of stem-crocodilians most specialised for marine life) with its short, tall snout, which lent it the popular nickname "[Godzilla](/source/Godzilla)" in press reports about its description. This species has a fossil range from the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous (Late [Tithonian](/source/Tithonian)-Early [Berriasian](/source/Berriasian)).<ref name="Gasparini''et al.'', 2006">Gasparini Z, Pol D, Spalletti LA. 2006. An unusual marine crocodyliform from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary of Patagonia. ''Science'' '''311''': 70-73.</ref>

''[Dakosaurus nicaeensis](/source/Dakosaurus_nicaeensis)'', named in 1913 by Ambayrac, was mistakenly classified as a [megalosaurid](/source/megalosaurid) dinosaur; now it is assigned as the sole species in the genus ''[Aggiosaurus](/source/Aggiosaurus)''. Buffetaut<ref name="Buffetaut, 1982">Buffetaut E. 1982. ''Aggiosaurus nicaeensis'' Ambayrac, 1913, from the Upper Jurassic of south-eastern France: A marine crocodilian, not a dinosaur. ''Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte'' (8): 469-475.</ref> in 1982 demonstrated that it was in fact a metriorhynchid, closely related to, if not a member of ''Dakosaurus''. As the type specimen is poorly preserved it is considered ''[nomen dubium](/source/nomen_dubium)''.

Incomplete skull specimens of ''Dakosaurus'' have been discovered in Kimmeridgian age rocks from Mexico; they have not yet been referred to a specific species of ''Dakosaurus''.<ref name="Buchy''et al.'', 2007"/><ref name="Buchy, 2008">Buchy M-C. 2008. New occurrence of the genus ''Dakosaurus'' (Reptilia, Thalattosuchia) in the Upper Jurassic of north-eastern Mexico with comments upon skull architecture of ''Dakosaurus'' and ''Geosaurus''. ''Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen'' '''249''' (1): 1-8.</ref>

==Description==
thumb|Size of ''D. maximus'' 
All currently known species would have been large, measuring approximately {{cvt|4|-|5|m|ft}} long.<ref>{{cite journal|year=2011|last1=Young|first1=M.T.|last2=Bell|first2=M.A.|last3=de Andrade|first3=M.B.|last4=Brusatte|first4=S.L.|title=Body size estimation and evolution in metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs: implications for species diversification and niche partitioning|journal=[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society](/source/Zoological_Journal_of_the_Linnean_Society)|volume=163|issue=4|pages=1199–1216|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00734.x|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Spindler|first1=F.|last2=Mattes|first2=M.|year=2021|title=Einsame Spitze – Fakten und Spekulation über das Solnhofener Gipfelraubtier|journal=Archaeopteryx|volume=37|pages=56–68}}</ref> Its body was streamlined for greater hydrodynamic efficiency, which along with its finned tail made it a more efficient swimmer than modern crocodilian species.<ref name="Massare, 1988">Massare JA. 1988. Swimming capabilities of Mesozoic marine reptiles: implications for method of predation. ''Paleobiology'' '''14''' (2):187-205.</ref>

==Classification==

''Dakosaurus''–when it contained the species ''D. andiniensis'', ''D. maximus'', and ''D. manselii''–had long been considered [paraphyletic](/source/paraphyletic), that is, not consisting of a common ancestor and its descendants,<ref name="Young, 2007">Young MT. 2007. The evolution and interrelationships of Metriorhynchidae (Crocodyliformes, Thalattosuchia). ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'' '''27''' (3): 170A.</ref><ref name="Wilkinson et al., 2008">Wilkinson LE, Young MT, Benton MJ. 2008. A new metriorhynchid crocodilian (Mesoeucrocodylia: Thalattosuchia) from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of Wiltshire, UK. ''Palaeontology'' '''51''' (6): 1307-1333.</ref><ref name=Neptunidraco>{{cite journal |year=2011 |title=The oldest known metriorhynchid crocodylian from the Middle Jurassic of North-eastern Italy: ''Neptunidraco ammoniticus'' gen. et sp. nov |journal=Gondwana Research |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=550–565 |doi=10.1016/j.gr.2010.07.007|author=Andrea Cau|author2=Federico Fanti|bibcode=2011GondR..19..550C }}</ref><ref name=newstudy>{{cite journal |year=2011 |title=Body size estimation and evolution in metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs: implications for species diversification and niche partitioning |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=163 |issue=4 |pages=1199–1216 |doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00734.x |author=Mark T. Young |author2=Mark A. Bell |author3=Marco Brandalise de Andrade |author4=Stephen L. Brusatte |name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free }}</ref> until a 2012 study moved ''D. manselii'' to the formerly invalid genus ''[Plesiosuchus](/source/Plesiosuchus)''.<ref name=Youngetal12>{{Cite journal | last1 = Young | first1 = M. T. | last2 = Brusatte | first2 = S. L. | last3 = De Andrade | first3 = M. B. | last4 = Desojo | first4 = J. B. | last5 = Beatty | first5 = B. L. | last6 = Steel | first6 = L. | last7 = Fernández | first7 = M. S. | last8 = Sakamoto | first8 = M. | last9 = Ruiz-Omeñaca | first9 = J. I. | last10 = Schoch | first10 = R. R. | editor1-last = Butler | editor1-first = Richard J | title = The Cranial Osteology and Feeding Ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera ''Dakosaurus'' and ''Plesiosuchus'' from the Late Jurassic of Europe | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0044985 | journal = [PLOS ONE](/source/PLOS_ONE) | volume = 7 | issue = 9 | article-number = e44985 | year = 2012 | pmid =  23028723| pmc =3445579 | bibcode = 2012PLoSO...744985Y | doi-access = free }}</ref>
{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:85%
|1={{clade
 |label1=[Metriorhynchidae](/source/Metriorhynchidae)
 |1={{clade
  |1=[Metriorhynchinae](/source/Metriorhynchinae)
  |label2=[Geosaurinae](/source/Geosaurinae)
  |2={{clade
   |1=''[Plesiosuchus manselii](/source/Plesiosuchus_manselii)''
   |2=''[Torvoneustes carpenteri](/source/Torvoneustes_carpenteri)''
   |3={{clade
    |1={{clade
     |1='''''Dakosaurus andiniensis'''''
     |2='''''Dakosaurus maximus''''' }}
    |2={{clade
     |1=''[Geosaurus](/source/Geosaurus)''
   }}
 }}
}}
}}
}}
}}

==Palaeobiology==
[[File:Dakosaurus2.jpg |thumb|''D. maximus'' leaping after two ''[Gnathosaurus](/source/Gnathosaurus)'']]

=== Salt glands ===
The incomplete skull specimens from the Mexican species of ''Dakosaurus'' preserves the chamber in which the well-developed [salt gland](/source/salt_gland)s (known from ''[Geosaurus](/source/Geosaurus)''<ref name="Fernández & Gasparini, 2000">Fernández M, Gasparini Z. 2000. Salt glands in a Tithonian metriorhynchid crocodyliform and their physiological significance. ''Lethaia'' '''33''': 269-276.</ref> and ''[Metriorhynchus](/source/Metriorhynchus)''<ref name="Gandola et al., 2006">Gandola R, Buffetaut E, Monaghan N, Dyke G. 2006. Salt glands in the fossil crocodile ''Metriorhynchus''. ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'' '''26''' (4): 1009-1010.</ref>) would have been housed. Unfortunately, there was no preservational evidence of the glands themselves.<ref name="Buchy''et al.'', 2007"/>

===Diet===
''Dakosaurus'' was the only marine crocodyliform to have evolved teeth that are both lateromedially compressed and serrated; not only that, but they were much larger than those of metriorhynchid genera.<ref name="Gasparini''et al.'', 2006"/> These characteristics, along with their morphology,  which fall within the 'Cut' guild of Massare (1987) - and are analogous to modern [killer whale](/source/killer_whale) teeth - indicate that ''Dakosaurus'' was an [apex predator](/source/apex_predator).<ref name="Massare, 1987">Massare JA. 1987. Tooth morphology and prey preference of Mesozoic marine reptiles. ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'' '''7''': 121-137.</ref>

The enlarged [supratemporal fenestrae](/source/Skull) of ''Dakosaurus'' skulls<ref name="Fraas, 1902"/> would have anchored large [adductor muscles](/source/adductor_muscles_of_the_hip) (jaw closing),<ref name="Holliday & Witmer, 2007">Holliday CM, Witmer LM. Archosaur adductor chamber evolution: integration of musculoskeletal and topological criteria in jaw muscle homology. ''Journal of Morphology'' '''268''' (6): 457-484.</ref> ensuring a powerful bite. As their skulls are triangular in shape, with deeply rooted, large, serrated teeth and a bulbous, deep, mandibular symphysis (like [pliosaur](/source/pliosaur)s), dakosaurs would also have been able to twist feed (tear chunks of flesh off potential prey).<ref name="Matill et al., 1994">Martill DM, Taylor MA, Duff KL, Riding JB, Brown PR. 1994. The trophic structure of the biota of the Peterborough Member, Oxford Clay Formation (Jurassic), UK. ''Journal of the Geological Society, London'' '''151''': 173-194.</ref> The [wear](/source/wear) and [spall](/source/spall) patterns of ''Dakosaurus'' teeth suggest it cut large prey items apart into chunks it could swallow, further pointing to the genus being macroraptorial.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Young |first1=Mark T. |last2=Brusatte |first2=Stephen L. |last3=Beatty |first3=Brian L. |last4=De Andrade |first4=Marco Brandalise |last5=Desojo |first5=Julia B. |date=11 May 2012 |title=Tooth-On-Tooth Interlocking Occlusion Suggests Macrophagy in the Mesozoic Marine Crocodylomorph Dakosaurus |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.22491 |journal=[The Anatomical Record](/source/The_Anatomical_Record) |language=en |volume=295 |issue=7 |pages=1147–1158 |doi=10.1002/ar.22491 |issn=1932-8486 |access-date=28 October 2025 |via=Wiley Online Library|hdl=11336/67886 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

== Palaeoecology ==
[[Image:Caypullisaurus Dak1.jpg|thumb|''D. andiniensis'' harassing a ''[Caypullisaurus](/source/Caypullisaurus)'']]
''Dakosaurus maximus'' is one of several species of metriorhynchids known from the Altmühltal Formation ([Solnhofen limestone](/source/Solnhofen_limestone), early Tithonian) of [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria), Germany. Alongside three other metriorhynchid species, it has been hypothesised that [niche partitioning](/source/niche_differentiation) enabled several species of crocodyliforms to co-exist. ''Dakosaurus'' and ''Geosaurus giganteus'' would have been top predators of this Formation, both of which were large, short-snouted species with serrated teeth. The remaining two species (''[Cricosaurus elegans](/source/Cricosaurus)'' and ''[Rhacheosaurus gracilis](/source/Rhacheosaurus)'') and the [teleosaurid](/source/teleosaurid) ''[Aeolodon](/source/Aeolodon)'' would have fed mostly on fish.<ref name="Andrade & Young, 2008">Andrade MB, Young MT. 2008. [http://www.svpca.org/general/pages/abstractPage.php?i=1378&r=talksAndPosters.php&y=2008  High diversity of thalattosuchian crocodylians and the niche partition in the Solnhofen Sea] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603232400/http://www.svpca.org/general/pages/abstractPage.php?i=1378&r=talksAndPosters.php&y=2008 |date=3 June 2011 }}. The 56th Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy</ref>

From the slightly older [Nusplingen Limestone](/source/Nusplingen_Limestone) (late Kimmeridgian) of southern Germany, both ''D. maximus'' and ''C. suevicus'' are contemporaneous. As with Solnhofen, ''Dakosaurus'' was the top predator, while ''C. suevicus'' was a fish-eater.<ref name="Dietl et al., 2000">Dietl G, Dietl O, Schweigert G, Hugger R. 2000. ''Der Nusplinger Plattenkalk (Weißer Jura zeta)'' - Grabungskampagne 1999.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
*[List of marine reptiles](/source/List_of_marine_reptiles)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/11/10/godzilla.find Scientists reveal prehistoric terror] - [CNN](/source/CNN)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124011841/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/photogalleries/godzilla/ Illustration] - [National Geographic](/source/National_Geographic_(magazine))

{{Thalattosuchia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q18819}}

Category:Prehistoric pseudosuchian genera
Category:Prehistoric marine crocodylomorphs
Category:Late Jurassic crocodylomorphs
Category:Late Jurassic crocodylomorphs of North America
Category:Jurassic Mexico
Category:Fossils of Mexico
Category:Early Cretaceous crocodylomorphs of South America
Category:Jurassic Argentina
Category:Cretaceous Argentina
Category:Fossils of Argentina
Category:Late Jurassic crocodylomorphs of Europe
Category:Jurassic France
Category:Fossils of France
Category:Jurassic Spain
Category:Fossils of Spain
Category:Jurassic Switzerland
Category:Fossils of Switzerland
Category:Cretaceous United Kingdom
Category:Fossils of Great Britain
Category:Solnhofen fauna
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1856

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dakosaurus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakosaurus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakosaurus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.