Anettussa

Anettussa is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 72 million years ago. Fossil evidence suggests Anettussa inhabited the waters of what is now Antarctica. The genus was first described in 2019 based on fragmentary remains, including vertebrae and limb bones, discovered in the Lopez de Bertodano Formation.

The classification of Anettussa within Plesiosauria is still under investigation, but current research indicates it was a polycotylid plesiosaur. Polycotylids were a group of plesiosaurs characterized by their relatively short necks compared to other plesiosaur families, and often possessed more robust bodies and shorter flippers. This morphology suggests they were likely active swimmers, capable of pursuing prey in open water.

The discovery of Anettussa is significant as it contributes to our understanding of plesiosaur diversity and distribution in the Southern Hemisphere during the Cretaceous. The presence of these marine reptiles in Antarctic waters highlights the warmer climate of the region during that geological era and the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems across the globe. Further fossil discoveries are needed to fully reconstruct the anatomy and ecological role of Anettussa.