Plioplatecarpus

Plioplatecarpus is a genus of mosasaurs, large marine lizards that inhabited the oceans during the Late Cretaceous. It is placed in the family Mosasauridae, within the subfamily Plioplatecarpinae, a group of somewhat elongate, mid-sized to large mosasaurs with long snouts and pronounced dentition. The genus comprises multiple species known from fossilized remains recovered from marine sediments in Europe and North America, indicating a broad geographic distribution during its time.

Plioplatecarpus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, roughly between 83 and 70 million years ago, overlapping with many other mosasaurs in coastal and open-ocean environments. Fossils have been used to infer a life in relatively shallow shelf seas where they could exploit abundant fish and cephalopod prey.

In terms of anatomy, Plioplatecarpus had a streamlined body, an elongated skull, and conical teeth designed for grasping prey. Its forelimbs and hind limbs were modified into paddle-like flippers, and the tail ended in a propulsive, crescent-shaped fin. These features suggest an active, fast-swimming predator capable of pursuing agile prey.

The paleontological record of Plioplatecarpus has contributed to understanding mosasaur evolution and Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems. It coexisted with other mosasaur genera and, like its relatives, ultimately disappeared during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.