Alipuita

Alipuita is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the plesiosaur order. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 75 million years ago. Fossils of alipuita have been discovered in what is now North America, specifically in the Western Interior Seaway. They are characterized by their long necks and tails, typical of plesiosaurs, and their paddle-like limbs adapted for swimming.

The genus was first described in 1997 based on fossil remains found in the Judith River Formation of Montana. Alipuita exhibits certain unique anatomical features that distinguish it from other plesiosaurs. While detailed studies are ongoing, these features suggest adaptations for a specific ecological niche within the Cretaceous marine environment. Like other plesiosaurs, alipuita was likely a carnivore, preying on fish and other marine life. Its discovery contributes to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of plesiosaurs in the Western Hemisphere during the Mesozoic Era. The limited fossil record means that much about alipuita’s specific biology and behavior remains to be elucidated.