Mesosaurus was an aquatic reptile that lived during the early Permaian Period, about 285 million years ago. It was highly specialized compared to other retiles of the time. In spite of what the name implies, Mesosaurus was a reptile and not a true dinosaur. It lived about 60 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared. Being the first reptile to revert to life in the water, Mesosaurus lived in fresh water ponds and streams and seldom, if ever, ventured onto land. Its tail was long, powerful and probably sported a fin down its length for locomotion. The hind legs were splayed and the toes were webbed for paddling. The front legs were short and used for steering through the water. Mesosaurus' jaws, lined with an impressive array of needle like teeth, could have been used for straining out crustaceans or catching small fish. This species, Mesosaurus braziliensis was found in the Irati Formation of southern Brazil. Mesosaurus is of great scientific importance because of its geographic distribution. Specimens have been found in similar rock formations from the same geologic period in two unlikely places: Brazil and southern Africa. This implies that South America and Africa were joined to make one super continent since Mesosaurus was obviously too small to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, Mesosaurus was an important key in helping scientists unlock the mystery of continental drift. Dimensions: 20-3/4" x 14" x 1-1/2"