Lumiaurus

Lumiaurus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the pliosaurid family, a group of short-necked plesiosaurs. Fossils of Lumiaurus have been discovered in the Middle Jurassic deposits of France. The genus is known from partial remains, primarily including skull fragments and vertebrae.

The type species, Lumiaurus fivei, was described in 1990. The name Lumiaurus honors the Lumière family, pioneers of cinema and residents of the region where the fossils were found, and the Greek word "ourios" meaning swift or rapid, referring to its presumed predatory lifestyle. Initial analyses suggest Lumiaurus possessed a relatively robust skull, indicative of a powerful bite. Like other pliosaurs, it would have been a formidable marine predator, likely feeding on fish and other marine vertebrates.

The discovery of Lumiaurus contributes to our understanding of pliosaur diversity during the Jurassic period. Its existence in Europe highlights the widespread distribution of these large marine reptiles across the ancient oceans. Further fossil discoveries may provide more complete insights into its anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary relationships within the Pliosauridae.