Thank you Caldey for sending into Everything Dinosaur your fabulous Kronosaurus illustration.  It is a wonderful drawing of the formidable prehistoric predator of the Early Cretaceous.  Only one species is currently recognised (Kronosaurus queenslandicus).  It was formally named and scientifically described over a hundred years ago (1924).  Ironically, although its fossils are from Australia, Kronosaurus was described and named by an Englishman. Albert Heber Longman, originally from Wiltshire in southern England was the director of the Queensland Museum (Brisbane) and he was tasked with studying the fossil material which had been donated to the museum at the turn of the century. It was Longman who correctly identified the fossils as representing the remains of a giant pliosaur.

Although the size of Kronosaurus is controversial, most palaeontologists estimate that it grew to over ten metres in length.  Caldey’s image captures the power and bulk of this apex predator.  The complex colour scheme was inspired by living cetaceans.  The colourful patterns inspired from a mixture of Atlantic white sided dolphin and the Common dolphin.

A fabulous Kronosaurus illustration. The colour scheme for the Kronosaurus was inspired by living cetaceans. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

A Colourful Kronosaurus Illustration

The Kronosaurus is depicted swimming close to the water’s surface.  It is propelled along by its robust flippers.  The enormous, interlocking teeth have been carefully drawn, and we love the yellow stripe (inspired by the colouration of the Common dolphin), running from the corner of the jaw down the side of the body.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Thank you Caldey for sending your amazing Kronosaurus illustration.  Kronosaurus is one of my favourite marine reptiles along with Mosasaurus, which you also kindly illustrated back in 2023.”

To see Caldey’s Mosasaurus (and Archelon) illustration from February 2023: Caldey Draws a Mosasaurus.