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Submitted: October 9, 2011
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Polycotylus Familyby *tiffanyturrill

Digital Art / Drawings & Paintings / Animals

Work-in-progress of Polycotylus, a late Cretaceous plesiosaur.
This year a specimen was described with viviparous fetae inside her - which could be potential evidence of mothering!
…So here she is with her beebees. :3

Oh, I used a variation on Wilhelm's fluke reconstruction, too - just for lulz.

Not horribly accurate, I just wanted to draw some baby plesiosaurs.

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~SamWei Mar 24, 2013

i love that

~Pristichampsus Jan 7, 2012 Professional General Artist

What is so innacurate about tail flukes? I thought some plesiosaurs definately had them...

~Algoroth Oct 17, 2011 Professional General Artist

Marvelous pic! But I do have one question: why would viviparous fetae indicate mothering?

~Skull-Island-Master Nov 1, 2011

If you lay dozens of eggs, there is always hope for atleast one that survives, if she has only two youngs, chances that those two get killed are very very high if they arent protected, so its better to protect the youngs if you only have a few of them.

~Algoroth Nov 1, 2011 Professional General Artist

Somke viviparous animals have lots of young at one time, rats for example, but you do make a good point.

~Pristichampsus Jan 7, 2012 Professional General Artist

It's a well established biological theory, either tens of babies and dont take care of them, or a handful or 2 or 1 baby at a time, and mother them. There are some intermediates, crocodiles and alligators care for their young for short periods, and lay a fair number of eggs.

~Algoroth Jan 8, 2012 Professional General Artist

I'm not at all sure I buy that theory for these reptiles. Mammals? Yes. While I agree viviparousness MIGHT indicate mothering--and I AM attracted a lot to the idea--I don't see it as proof.

Basically, I think you are correct, but what is proof? I believe many dinos had extra scales and spines and scutes and I can point to those that do have those decorations as proof of the possibilities many more kinds did, but I cannot prove the dinos I draw had them.

I find a problem with what a lot of scientists see as proof of something. "Tyrannosaurs could see good and were tall. This proves they were scavengers!" This is a condensation of a theory one of Jack Horner's cohorts put forth. What does the eyes theory really prove? Nothing at all. Good eyesight and a tall platform would indicate a rex COULD scavenge, nothing more...and nothing less.

I am glad to see you put your thoughts in the maybe category. This indicates sound thinking.

~ryn0saur Oct 14, 2011

Looks awesome!!! Were you inspired from the display at the LA Natural History Museum?

*tiffanyturrill Oct 15, 2011 Professional General Artist

ooo, unfortunately not! i haven't been down to LA in years, i'll have to check out the LAMN next time i'm there!

~ryn0saur Oct 17, 2011

Yeah! The specimen they have there even has fossilized babies inside of it! Truly incredible.
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