Pseudorakidura

Pseudorakidura is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These marine reptiles lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 75 million years ago. The genus was first described in 2003 by paleontologists Kenneth Carpenter and Thomas Britt, based on fossil remains discovered in the United States.

The name Pseudorakidura is derived from Greek words meaning "false spine," referring to certain anatomical features observed in the fossil material. Pseudorakidura is characterized by its relatively small size compared to other plesiosaurs and specific adaptations in its vertebral column and limb structure. While complete skeletons are rare, available evidence suggests it was a nektonic predator, likely feeding on fish and invertebrates.

Fossils attributed to Pseudorakidura have been found in marine sedimentary deposits, indicating its habitat was the shallow seas that covered parts of North America during the Cretaceous. The discovery of Pseudorakidura has contributed to our understanding of plesiosaur diversity and evolution during the final stages of their existence before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Further research on its skeletal morphology and phylogenetic relationships continues to refine its place within the broader plesiosaur family tree.