Igarassus

Igarassus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These animals lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 130 to 125 million years ago. Fossils attributed to Igarassus have been discovered in South America, primarily in Brazil. The genus is known from a limited number of fossil specimens, which has made its precise taxonomic placement and detailed understanding of its biology challenging for paleontologists.

The anatomy of Igarassus suggests it was a relatively small to medium-sized plesiosaur. Like other plesiosaurs, it possessed a long neck, a broad torso, and four paddle-like limbs adapted for swimming. Its skull was likely narrow and elongated, equipped with sharp teeth suitable for catching fish and other small marine prey. The discovery of Igarassus contributes to our understanding of plesiosaur diversity in Gondwanan continents during the Mesozoic Era. Its presence indicates that these long-necked marine predators inhabited a wide range of oceanic environments across the globe. Further fossil discoveries are needed to provide a more complete picture of Igarassus's evolutionary relationships and ecological role within its ancient marine ecosystem.