List of mosasaur genera

This list of mosasaurs is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included in the family Mosasauridae or the parent clade Mosasauroidea, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms of more established names, and genera that are no longer considered mosasauroid. Non-mosasaurid mosasauroids shall be noted as such. The list currently includes 92 genera, out of which 58 are considered valid (47 mosasaurids and 10 other mosasauroids).

Scope and terminology

There is no official, canonical list of mosasaur genera but one of the most thorough attempts can be found on the "Pythonomorpha" section of Mikko Haaramo's Phylogeny Archive.

Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Technical terms used include:

  • Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN, but junior synonyms cannot be used again, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen.
  • Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen. In this case, these nomina nuda will be deleted from this list in favor of the published name.
  • Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. As preoccupied names are not valid generic names, they will also go unitalicized on this list.
  • Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features.

Mosasaur genera

Genus Author(s) Year Status Age Location Notes Images
Acteosaurus Meyer 1860 Valid Late Cretaceous Slovenia Its vertebral column resembles that of extant varanid lizards
Adriosaurus Seeley 1881 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia
Slovenia 		The A. skrbinensis specimen preserves a phosphatic matter in its stomach area, likely remains of fish, which suggests it may have been piscivorous
Aigialosaurus Kramberger 1892 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia Has been suggested to be the oldest known member of the lineage that led to the larger mosasaurids
Amphekepubis Mehl 1930 Dubious Late Cretaceous Mexico Possibly a junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Amphorosteus Gibbs 1851 Dubious Late Cretaceous United States Only known from two, heavily weathered vertebrae
Ancylocentrum Schmidt 1927 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Prognathodon
Angolasaurus Antunes 1964 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola
Brazil?
Niger?
United States? 		Mostly similar to the related Platecarpus, but with a somewhat longer skull
Aphanizocnemus Dal Sasso & Pinna 1997 Valid Late Cretaceous Lebanon Although commonly regarded as a dolichosaurid, a few analyses suggest it may be outside of that group
Baptosaurus Marsh 1870 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Halisaurus
Baseodon Leidy 1865 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Batrachiosaurus Harlan 1839 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Bentiabasaurus Polcyn, Schulp & Gonçalves 2023 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola Discovered as a stomach content of an adult Prognathodon
Brachysaurana Strand 1926 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Prognathodon
Brachysaurus Williston 1897 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by a junior synonym of iguanian lizard genus Stenocercus;[1] referred to replacement names Brachysaurana and Ancylocentrum, of which the latter has priority as such, although both names are synonyms of Prognathodon
Carinodens Thurmond 1969 Valid Late Cretaceous Belgium
Denmark
Jordan
Morocco
Netherlands
Russia
Ukraine
 Closely related to Globidens, but can be distinguished by its compressed teeth
Carsosaurus Kornhuber 1893 Valid Late Cretaceous Slovenia Preserves skin impressions and sternal cartilage
Clidastes Cope 1868 Valid Late Cretaceous United States One of the earliest known hydropedal mosasaurs
Compressidens Dollo 1924 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by a tusk shell; later renamed Carinodens
Coniasaurus Owen 1850 Valid Late Cretaceous Germany
United Kingdom
United States 		Only known from incomplete remains, but they are enough to tell that it had an elongated skull containing specialized dentition
Dallasaurus Polcyn & Bell 2005 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Has been said to be a "missing link" uniting fully aquatic mosasaur taxa and their terrestrial ancestors
Dolichosaurus Owen 1894 Valid Late Cretaceous United Kingdom Possessed an exceptionally long neck
Dollosaurus Yakovlev 1905 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Prognathodon
Drepanodon Leidy 1856 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Ectenosaurus Russell 1967 Valid Late Cretaceous United States One of the few plioplatecarpines that was not exclusive to nearshore marine environments
Edestosaurus Marsh 1871 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Clidastes
Eidolosaurus Nopcsa 1923 Valid Late Cretaceous Slovenia One of the oldest known mosasauroids
Elliptonodon Emmons 1858 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Tylosaurus
Eonatator Bardet et al. 2005 Valid Late Cretaceous Colombia
Sweden
United States 		The type species was originally referred to Clidastes and Halisaurus
Eremiasaurus LeBlanc et al. 2012 Valid Late Cretaceous Brazil
Israel
Morocco 		Characterised by its robust skull with pronounced heterodont dentition
Gavialimimus Strong et al. 2020 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola?
Morocco 		Unusually, its snout was elongated, convergent with the extant gharial, hence its genus name
Globidens Gilmore 1912 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola
Brazil
Colombia
Jordan
Morocco
Syria
United States 		Known for its rounded teeth, an adaptation to crush shelled prey such as molluscs
Gnathomortis Lively 2020 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Previously identified as a species of Prognathodon, but it has been found to be different enough from that taxon to receive its own genus
Goronyosaurus Azzaroli et al. 1972 Valid Late Cretaceous Niger
Nigeria 		Possessed straight teeth with rounded apices more well suited for smashing food
Haasiasaurus Polcyn et al. 2003 Valid Late Cretaceous Palestine Possibly chimeric as all referred remains were not found in association[2]
Hainosaurus Dollo 1885 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Tylosaurus
Halisaurus Marsh 1869 Valid Late Cretaceous Egypt
Jordan?
Morocco
Peru?
United States 		May have been a poor swimmer due to the lack of hyperphalangy as seen in more derived genera
Harranasaurus Kaddumi 2009 Valid Late Cretaceous Jordan Only known from a single mandible
Holcodus Gibbs 1851 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of

Platecarpus

Holosaurus Marsh 1880 Preoccupied N/A N/A Referred to Platecarpus
Hydrosaurus Kornhuber 1873 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by agamid lizard genus Hydrosaurus; renamed Pontosaurus
Igdamanosaurus Lingham-Soliar 1991 Valid Late Cretaceous Egypt
Niger 		Its dentary was massively built, similar to Prognathodon and its relative Globidens
Jormungandr Zietlow, Boyd & van Vranken 2023 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Shares features of its skeleton with both basal and derived mosasaurines
Kaganaias Evans et al. 2006 Valid Early Cretaceous Japan The oldest and basalmost known dolichosaurid
Kaikaifilu Otero et al. 2017 Valid Late Cretaceous Antarctica Potentially a tylosaurine, although some researchers consider this assignment problematic
Khinjaria[3] Longrich et al. 2024 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco May have probably hunted large prey items due to its large body size and blade-like teeth. Closely related to Goronyosaurus
Kolposaurus Camp 1942 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by a junior synonym of the unrelated Nothosaurus;[4] referred to Plotosaurus
Komensaurus Caldwell & Palci 2007 Valid Late Cretaceous Slovenia Before its formal description, it had been nicknamed the "Trieste aigialosaur"
Kourisodon Nicholls & Meckert 2002 Valid Late Cretaceous Canada
Japan 		Coexisted with several elasmosaurids, turtles, and other mosasaurs
Lakumasaurus Novas et al. 2002 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Taniwhasaurus
Latoplatecarpus Konishi & Caldwell 2011 Valid Late Cretaceous Canada
Russia
United States 		One of the largest named plioplatecarpines
Leiodon Owen 1841 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by a fish; referred to Liodon
Lesticodus Leidy 1859 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Lestosaurus Marsh 1872 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Platecarpus
Liodon Agassiz 1846 Dubious Late Cretaceous United Kingdom Several species have been referred to this genus, although they do not belong to a single taxon
Macrosaurus Owen 1849 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Megapterygius[5] Konishi et al. 2023 Valid Late Cretaceous Japan The neural spines of its posterior dorsal vertebrae have an abrupt change in orientation, which would have supported a dolphin-like dorsal fin in life
Mesoleptos Cornalia & Chiozza 1852 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia
Palestine
Slovenia 		An early member of the Mosasauroidea
Moanasaurus Wiffen 1980 Valid Late Cretaceous New Zealand One of the largest known mosasaurines
Mosasaurus Conybeare 1822 Valid Late Cretaceous Antarctica
Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Jordan
Morocco
Netherlands
Russia
South Africa
Turkey
United States 		The first mosasaur genus ever named and described
Nectoportheus Cope 1868 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Oneirosaurus[6] Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2025 Valid Late Cretaceous Colombia Known from a single, well-preserved skull
Opetiosaurus Kornhuber 1901 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia Has been suggested to be synonymous with Aigialosaurus,[7] but this was not supported by subsequent research[8]
Oterognathus Dollo 1889 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Plioplatecarpus
Pannoniasaurus Makádi, Caldwell & Ősi 2012 Valid Late Cretaceous Hungary Lived in a freshwater habitat unlike other members of its family, which were marine predators
Phosphorosaurus Dollo 1889 Valid Late Cretaceous Belgium
Japan 		Had large eye sockets, which imply it would have hunted its prey in deep water or at night
Platecarpus Cope 1869 Valid Late Cretaceous Australia?
Belgium?
United States 		One specimen is so well-preserved it shows that mosasaurs were powerful, agile swimmers
Plesioplatecarpus Konishi & Caldwell 2011 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Six specimens are known to date
Plesiotylosaurus Camp 1942 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Some traits of its skull are seemingly convergent with tylosaurine mosasaurs
Plioplatecarpus Dollo 1882 Valid Late Cretaceous Canada
Netherlands
Sweden
United States 		Lived in a broad range as suggested by its fossil record
Plotosaurus Camp 1951 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Unusually, its overall morphology was more similar to that of ichthyosaurs than to other mosasaurs, which led to its quite derived position within the latter group
Pluridens Lingham-Soliar 1998 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco
Niger
Nigeria 		Some specimens preserve injuries to their jaws, which would indicate they may have engaged in intraspecific combat
Pontosaurus Gorjanovic-Kramberger 1892 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia
Lebanon 		Two species are known
Portunatasaurus Mekarski et al. 2019 Valid Late Cretaceous Croatia Has been used as a subject for the understanding on the evolution of mosasauroid limb morphology
Primitivus Paparella et al. 2018 Valid Late Cretaceous Italy The first dolichosaurid named from Italy
Proaigialosaurus Kuhn 1958 Valid Late Jurassic Germany Often regarded as an aigialosaurid, but it may have also been a pleurosaurid
Prognathodon Dollo 1889 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola?
Belgium
Canada?
Israel
Jordan
Mexico
Netherlands?
New Zealand?
Spain
Syria
Ukraine
United States? 		Possibly paraphyletic as most assigned species may not belong to this genus
Prognathosaurus Williston 1897 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Prognathodon
Pterycollosaurus Dollo 1882 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Rhamphosaurus Cope 1872 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied by another lizard genus; referred to Tylosaurus
Rhinosaurus Marsh 1872 Preoccupied N/A N/A Preoccupied;[9] referred to Tylosaurus
Rikisaurus Wiffen 1990 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Moanasaurus
Rikkisaurus Bell et al. 1999 Lapsus calami N/A N/A Lapsus calami of Rikisaurus, a junior synonym of Moanasaurus
Romeosaurus Palci et al. 2013 Valid Late Cretaceous Italy None of the described specimens has enough well-preserved postcranial material, making it somewhat difficult to make any good judgements of the genus' full anatomy
Russellosaurus Polcyn & Bell 2005 Valid Late Cretaceous United States One of the oldest mosasaurs described from North America
Sarabosaurus Polcyn et al. 2023 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Based on remains of a mature animal as indicated by its preserved growth rings
Saurochampsa Wagler 1830 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mosasaurus
Selmasaurus Wright & Shannon 1988 Valid Late Cretaceous United States Would have been unable to widen its jaws to attack large prey due to its uniquely akinetic skull
Sironectes Cope 1840 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Platecarpus
Stelladens Longrich et al. 2023 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco Named for its star-shaped teeth
Taniwhasaurus Hector 1874 Valid Late Cretaceous Antarctica
Japan?
New Zealand
South Africa? 		May have possessed an electro-sensitive organ in its snout foramina that was likely capable of detecting movements of prey underwater
Tetrapodophis Martill et al. 2015 Valid Early Cretaceous Brazil Originally described as a basal snake but later often reinterpreted as a dolichosaurid
Tethysaurus Bardet, Pereda-Suberbiola & Jalil 2003 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco Exhibits a mixture of primitive and advanced features
Thalassotitan Longrich et al. 2022 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco Its discovery shows that mosasaurs evolved to be the apex predators in the Late Cretaceous oceans. Closely related to Prognathodon
Tylosaurus Marsh 1872 Valid Late Cretaceous Angola
Belgium
Canada
Democratic Republic of the Congo?
France
Morocco
Sweden
United States 		Some species are among the largest mosasaurs yet known
Vallecillosaurus Smith & Buchy 2008 Valid Late Cretaceous Mexico One of the oldest mosasauroids ever described
Xenodens Longrich et al. 2021 Valid Late Cretaceous Morocco One study considered this taxon a nomen dubium due to the lack of authenticity,[10] but this was refuted by the discovery of additional material and CT scans[11]
Yaguarasaurus Páramo 1994 Valid Late Cretaceous Colombia
Mexico 		The most completely known South American mosasaur during the time of its description

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Stenocercus at Herpbreeder.com Archived April 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12-03-2007.
  2. ^ Alessandro Palci, Michael W. Caldwell and Cesare A. Papazzoni (2013). "A new genus and subfamily of mosasaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of northern Italy". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (3): 599–612. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.731024. hdl:11380/941691. S2CID 86646993.
  3. ^ Longrich, Nicholas R.; Polcyn, Michael J.; Jalil, Nour-Eddine; Pereda-Suberbiola, Xabier; Bardet, Nathalie (2024-03-01). "A bizarre new plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian of Morocco". Cretaceous Research. 160 105870. Bibcode:2024CrRes.16005870L. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105870. hdl:1874/438706. ISSN 0195-6671.
  4. ^ Sauropterygia at Paleofile.com. Retrieved 12-03-2007.
  5. ^ Konishi, Takuya; Ohara, Masaaki; Misaki, Akihiro; Matsuoka, Hiroshige; Street, Hallie P.; Caldwell, Michael W. (2023). "A new derived mosasaurine (Squamata: Mosasaurinae) from south-western Japan reveals unexpected postcranial diversity among hydropedal mosasaurs". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 21 (1). doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2277921. ISSN 1477-2019.
  6. ^ Páramo-Fonseca, María Eurídice; Narváez-Rincón, José Alejandro; Benavides-Cabra, Cristian David (2025-10-29). "Oneirosaurus caballeroi gen. et sp. nov., a new mosasaur from Colombia". Earth Sciences Research Journal. 29 (3): 231–247. doi:10.15446/esrj.v29n3.117157 (inactive 2025-10-29). ISSN 2339-3459.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link)
  7. ^ Dutchak, Alex R.; and Caldwell, Michael W. (2009)."A redescription of Aigialosaurus (= Opetiosaurus) bucchichi (Kornhuber, 1901) (Squamata: Aigialosauridae) with comments on mosasauroid systematics". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29 (2): 437-452.
  8. ^ Madzia, D., Cau, A. (2017). Inferring "weak spots" in phylogenetic trees: application to mosasauroid nomenclature Archived 2017-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. PeerJ 5:e3782
  9. ^ Edward Drinker Cope "On the structure of the Pythonomorpha". (1872) Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 24:140-141
  10. ^ Sharpe, Henry S.; Powers, Mark J.; Caldwell, Michael W. (2024-12-16). "Reassessment of Xenodens calminechari with a discussion of tooth morphology in mosasaurs". The Anatomical Record. doi:10.1002/ar.25612. ISSN 1932-8486. PMC 12239698. PMID 39682068.
  11. ^ Longrich, N. R.; Bardet, N.; Jalil, N.-E.; Pereda-Suberbiola, X.; Schulp, A.; Ghamizi, M. (2025). "New Information on the Morphology and Tooth Replacement of Xenodens calminechari (Squamata: Mosasauridae), a Unique Mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco". Diversity. 17 (12) 819. doi:10.3390/d17120819.

References

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