Abiyyas

Abiyyas is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago. Fossils attributed to Abiyyas have been discovered in the United States, primarily within the Western Interior Seaway.

The genus Abiyyas is known from fragmentary remains, making detailed anatomical reconstructions challenging. However, existing evidence suggests they were relatively small plesiosaurs, likely measuring around 3 to 4 meters in length. Their bodies were likely streamlined, adapted for aquatic life, with a long neck characteristic of many plesiosaurs. The paddle-like limbs would have facilitated efficient swimming.

The exact placement of Abiyyas within the Plesiosauria order is still debated among paleontologists due to the limited fossil material. It is often classified within the Elasmosauridae family, a group of long-necked plesiosaurs that were widespread during the Cretaceous. The diet of Abiyyas is presumed to have consisted of fish and squid, based on the general feeding habits of plesiosaurs. The extinction of Abiyyas, like all non-avian dinosaurs and other marine reptiles, is linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.