Rudivastis

Rudivastis 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. Fossil evidence suggests they inhabited the waters of what is now North America. Rudivastis possessed a long neck and a broad body, characteristic of many plesiosaurs. Their diet likely consisted of fish and other small marine organisms, which they would have captured using their sharp teeth.

The genus Rudivastis was first described by paleontologist C.J. Heckert in 2006. The type species, Rudivastis laqueus, was named based on fragmented remains recovered from exposures in the Western Interior Seaway. These fossils provide insights into the diversity of plesiosaurs during the Late Cretaceous, a period that saw significant evolutionary changes in marine reptile lineages. While not as widely known as some other plesiosaur genera, Rudivastis contributes to our understanding of the ecosystems and fauna of ancient oceans. Further discoveries could potentially reveal more about its specific adaptations and ecological role within its environment.