Ceresiosaurus

Ceresiosaurus is an extinct genus of thalattosaur, a group of marine reptiles that lived during the Triassic period. Fossils of Ceresiosaurus have been found in the Middle Triassic deposits of Switzerland, specifically in the Besano Formation. It belonged to the family Ceresiosauridae, which also includes other closely related thalattosaurs.

This marine reptile is known from several partial skeletons. It was a relatively small animal, with estimates of its length ranging around 2 to 3 meters. Ceresiosaurus possessed a long tail, a slender body, and paddle-like limbs, adaptations typical of marine reptiles for swimming. Its skull was elongated and narrow. The exact diet of Ceresiosaurus is debated, but based on its teeth and jaw structure, it likely fed on small fish and invertebrates.

Ceresiosaurus shared its habitat with other marine creatures of the Triassic, contributing to the diverse marine ecosystems of the time. Its discovery has been important for understanding the evolution and diversity of thalattosaurs, a group of reptiles that adapted to a marine lifestyle during the Mesozoic Era. The fossils provide valuable insights into the paleogeography and paleoenvironment of the Tethys Sea during the Triassic.