Articilans

Articilans are a group of extinct marine reptiles that lived during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods, approximately 230 to 180 million years ago. They are known for their distinctive, paddle-like limbs, which were adapted for swimming in the shallow seas of their time. Articilans are believed to have been semi-aquatic, spending much of their time in the water and only coming onto land to lay their eggs.

The most well-known species of Articilans is Articula, which was discovered in the United Kingdom. Articula had a long, narrow body and a large, flat head with small eyes and a long, pointed snout. Its limbs were paddle-like, with long fingers and toes that were webbed. Articula is estimated to have been about 3 meters long.

Articilans are thought to have been carnivorous, feeding on fish and other small marine animals. They are believed to have been active predators, using their paddle-like limbs to catch prey in the water. Articilans are an important part of the history of life on Earth, as they were one of the first groups of reptiles to evolve and adapt to life in the oceans.