Filter feeding

Marine reptiles

Filter feeding habits are rare among Mesozoicmarine reptiles, the main filter feeding niche being seemingly instead occupied by pachycormid fish. However, some sauropsids have been suggested to have engaged in filter feeding. Henodus was a placodont with unique baleen-like denticles and features of the hyoid and jaw musculature comparable to those of flamingos. Combined with its lacustrine environment, it might have occupied a similar ecological niche. In particular, it was probably a herbivore, filtering out algae and other small-sized flora from the substrates. Stomatosuchidae is a family of freshwater crocodylomorphs with rorqual-like jaws and minuscule teeth, and the unrelated CenozoicMourasuchus shares similar adaptations.Hupehsuchia is a lineage of bizarre Triassic reptiles adapted for suspension feeding. Some plesiosaurs might have had filter-feeding habits.