Scotolathys

Scotolathys is a genus of extinct predatory marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These marine reptiles lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 72 million years ago. The name "Scotolathys" is derived from Greek words meaning "darkness" and "fish," referring to its likely predatory lifestyle and the dark, deep environments it may have inhabited.

Fossils attributed to Scotolathys have been found in various locations, primarily in North America, including the Western Interior Seaway of the United States and Canada. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of plesiosaurs during the Cretaceous. Scotolathys is characterized by its relatively long neck and body, although precise skeletal details are often based on fragmented remains. Like other plesiosaurs, it possessed four paddle-like limbs, adapted for efficient swimming in marine environments. Its diet likely consisted of fish and other marine invertebrates, which it would have captured using its sharp teeth.

The genus Scotolathys is considered to be part of the pliosaur superfamily, a group of plesiosaurs known for their robust build and often shorter necks compared to elasmosaurids. However, specific classifications and the number of valid species within Scotolathys have been subject to ongoing scientific debate and revision as new fossil evidence emerges and is analyzed. The study of Scotolathys contributes to our understanding of marine ecosystems and the predator-prey dynamics of the Late Cretaceous oceans.