13 ‘Teleosaurus chapmani’ (head up)

3D Model

One of two statues of Teleosaurus (‘perfect lizard’).

Teleosaurus looks rather like modern crocodiles but they lived 171–164 million years ago during the Jurassic Period and belong to a different evolutionary lineage. The similarities to crocodiles are due to ‘convergent evolution’ where adaption by unrelated species to similar ecological niches results in similar physical traits and behaviours. Like crocodiles the teleosauroids had long, narrow snouts with pointed teeth to snatch fish and other prey, and long, powerful tails for fast swimming. The two Crystal Palace reptiles are basking by the water’s edge, which is a likely behaviour.

The sculptor, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, gave Teleosaurus a scaly skin patterned similar to that of a crocodile. This is an anomaly because even in Hawkins’ day there was fossil evidence that Teleosaurus had two rows of large bony plates on their backs and shield of bony plates on their bellies.

Model by HE Geospatial Survey Team ©Historic England