A New Reconstruction of Plesiosaurs Based on an Exceptionally Complete Specimen
- 演化之聲
- Mar 14
- 4 min read
Plesiosaurs (Plesiosauria) were one of the most iconic groups of marine reptiles during the Mesozoic Era. Their evolutionary history began in the Triassic and continued until the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, spanning roughly 140 million years. Fossils of these animals have been discovered across the globe, indicating that they were widely distributed and highly diverse. Their general body plan is familiar: a long neck, a compact torso, and four powerful flippers adapted for life in the ocean.
Yet despite their fame, the actual external appearance of plesiosaurs has remained uncertain. While other marine reptile groups have gradually acquired more detailed life reconstructions through discoveries of soft tissues and skin impressions, plesiosaurs have lagged behind in this regard. The reason is simple. Although skeletal fossils are abundant, preserved soft tissues are extremely rare. To date, only eight plesiosaur specimens with preserved soft tissue traces have been scientifically documented.
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