Dermises

Dermises are a group of extinct marine reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era, from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 230 to 66 million years ago. They are known for their distinctive, flat, paddle-like limbs, which were adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Dermises are believed to have been semi-aquatic predators, feeding on fish and other marine creatures.

The most well-known dermises are the plesiosaurs, which are often referred to as "marine lizards." Plesiosaurs had long, slender necks and powerful tails, and they are known for their distinctive, toothed, paddle-like limbs. Other dermises include the elasmosaurs, which had shorter, more robust limbs, and the pliosaurids, which were large, predatory plesiosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.

Dermises are believed to have gone extinct along with the non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago. The cause of their extinction is not fully understood, but it is believed to have been related to the same factors that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, such as climate change and the impact of a large asteroid.

Dermises are an important group of marine reptiles that provide valuable insights into the evolution of marine ecosystems and the adaptations of marine predators. Their distinctive features and adaptations make them a fascinating subject of study for paleontologists and other scientists.