Plesiosaur

Plesiosaurs were marine reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, roughly 200 to 66 million years ago. They are known for their distinctive body shape: a broad, flat body, long neck, small head, and four paddle-like limbs used for swimming. Despite their reptile classification, they were fully aquatic, hunting fish and other marine animals. Plesiosaurs varied in size, some reaching over 15 meters long. They are often mistaken for dinosaurs, but they are a separate group of marine reptiles. Fossil evidence mainly comes from well-preserved skeletons found in marine sediments worldwide.