Alisus

Alisus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 66 million years ago. Fossils attributed to Alisus have been discovered in various locations, primarily in Europe and North America.

Alisus possessed the characteristic long neck and broad body typical of plesiosaurs. Its paddle-like limbs would have been used for propulsion through the water. The exact size of Alisus species is not precisely known, but based on fossil fragments, they were likely medium-sized marine predators. Their diet is presumed to have consisted of fish and other small marine organisms.

The classification of Alisus within plesiosauria is subject to ongoing scientific debate. Some researchers consider it a distinct genus, while others suggest it may represent juvenile specimens or geographically variable populations of other known plesiosaur genera. The limited fossil evidence available for Alisus makes definitive taxonomic placement challenging. Further discoveries and detailed analysis of existing remains are crucial for a more complete understanding of this prehistoric marine reptile.