A New Plesiosaurus Species Successfully Identified in the United States

New Species Plesiosaurus Successfully Identified in the United States

Unktaheela specta inhabited the Western Interior Seaway during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80.5 million years ago. This marine reptile is a type of polycotylid, a plesiosaur family that evolved during the Early Cretaceous and diversified into several genera during the Late Cretaceous. "Polycotylida is a Cretaceous marine reptile from the superfamily Plesiosauroidea," said lead author Dr. Robert Clark and his colleagues at Marshall University.

"Polycotylids are known from the earliest Aptian in Australia, but they reached North America through the Albian and achieved cosmopolitan distribution before becoming extinct along with other Plesiosauria at the end of the Maastrichtian."

"ungkap Dr. Robert Clark." translates to "revealed Dr. Robert Clark."

"\u201cPolycotylids have a plesiosaurus-like bauplan with a wide hydrodynamic body, short tail, four modified limbs that serve as large paddles, and expanded chest and pelvic girdles. However, they also have derived traits such as a short neck and a large head with an elongated snout.\u201d \u201cAlthough these characteristics are convergent with pliosaurids, the smaller gaps and teeth in most polycotylids indicate that they occupy a different ecological niche.\u201d"

Two fossil skulls (holotype and paratype) of Unktaheela specta were found in the Baculites obtusus zone in the Sharon Springs Formation in the United States.

A New Plesiosaurus Species Successfully Identified in the United States

"The holotype is a nearly complete skull and lower jaw with a series of cervical, sacral, and tail vertebrae, partial series of dorsal vertebrae, ribs, parts of the pelvic and thoracic girdles, both ilia, both forelimbs, and both hindlimbs," said the paleontologist.
"Paratype is a complete skull, mandible in three parts, and five small, separate, and unidentified postcranial elements."

Source: Sci.news

Unktaheela specta is a small polycotyledon, with a length between 2.3 and 2.6 m (7.5-8.5 feet) with a wide skull and unique fins.

This reptile has a flat area above its large eyes, protecting it from the sunlight. It may hunt its prey visually just below the water surface.

"The comparison with living tetrapods suggests that some features of Unktaheela specta may be adaptations for visual predation in a sunlit environment, an interpretation that has ecological implications for other aquatic reptiles," said the researchers.

Source: Sci.news

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