The Sixth Most Deadly Sea" The Triassic 230 mya Nothosaurs, Cymbospondylus
As Nigel walks along the tropical coastlines of Triassic Switzerland, he explains that the reptiles are taking over the surface of the earth from the skies (e.g. Peteinosaurus (1 m)), to the land (e.g. Coelurosaurs (2 m)). But of course, he is here to see the earliest sea reptiles.
From the deck of the Ancient Mariner, Nigel and crew watch as a Nothosaurus (3 m) comes up for air. When he sees one, Nigel dives into the seas, pursuing the elusive sea reptile.
Before long, Nigel finds a pair of Nothosaurus. The Nothosaurus circle him, and Nigel has his prod ready to put off any Nothosaurus that comes too close. One of the Nothosaurus moves in closer, so Nigel grabs it around its head to swim with it, explaining that although the Nothosaurus would be able to close its jaws with tremendous force, the muscles that open its jaws are very weak. He lets the Nothosaurus go discovers another bizarre sea reptile: a Tanystropheus (4 m).
Nigel follows the female Tanystropheus, and attempts to get a closer look at her by grabbing onto her tail, impeding her movement. The Tanystropheus struggles with all of her might, but Nigel still had a grip on her tail. However, the Tanystropheus loses her tail, similar to the modern day leopard gecko. Nigel can hold onto the tail only with difficulty, because it is thrashing around (intended as a predator decoy). Suddenly the tail is snatched up and then eaten by a Cymbospondylus (9 m).
The Cymbospondylus begins to circle Nigel , and he explains that its slow movement is designed to deceive prey, and it can move very quickly when it is needed to. After he pokes it with the prod several times, the Cymbospondylus swims away, and Nigel returns to the relative safety of the Ancient Mariner.