(Solved): Liopleurodon ferox is a large carnivorous marine reptile from the late Jurassic Period with an est ...

Liopleurodon ferox is a large carnivorous marine reptile from the late Jurassic Period with an estimated length of \( 6.4 \mathrm{~m} \) (21 ft). Paleobiologists believe that L. ferox was a voracious predator that ate everything that it came across, ranging from squids to sharks to other dinosaurs. Design a respiratory system for L. ferox that supports their natural history. Specifically, describe the following and provide the reason(s) for the choice of design. Be sure to consider: - Respiratory systems in extant reptiles - Evolutionary constraints - Energetics of natural history - Atmospheric \( \mathrm{PO}_{2} \) in the Jurassic Period 1. Describe the type of respiratory medium, and the respiratory organ they had (tidal or unidirectional, if latter, the flow of respiratory medium relative to the blood flow) 2. Describe if they had any specialization that enhances gas exchange efficiency 3. Describe the type of ventilation mechanism L ferox used 4. Describe if the design of the respiratory system would be different if they inhabited freshwater