Dolichosauridae

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Dolichosauridae: Ancient aquatic lizards of the Cretaceous

Dolichosauridae were long, eel-like lizards that lived in the oceans from about 129 to 72 million years ago. Many scientists consider them among the earliest and most primitive members of Mosasauria, though some researchers think they are closer to snakes.

Key members and size:
- Dolichosaurus: about 0.5 to 1 meter long.
- Coniasaurus: about 0.5 meter long.
They had elongated bodies, reduced limbs, and small heads, with long necks in many species. They were well adapted to swimming.

Lifestyle and habitat:
- They were mainly aquatic and likely spent most of their time underwater.
- They probably fed in crevices and narrow spaces along coral reefs and rocky shores.
- Kaganaias, from the Barremian, may have lived in freshwater, which is unusual for the group.

Evolutionary relationships:
- The exact family tree is debated. Some studies place Dolichosauridae as early mosasaurs (basal mosasauroids), while others group them with snakes (as part of Pythonomorpha).
- The fossils are often incomplete (skulls for Coniasaurus; postcranial remains for Dolichosaurus), which makes it hard to pin down their relationships precisely.

Why it matters:
- Dolichosauridae shed light on the early evolution of aquatic lizards and contribute to debates about the origins of snakes and mosasaurs in squamate history.