Stihnus

Stihnus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria, specifically within the suborder Pliosauria. The genus was first described in 2021 based on fossil remains discovered in the Oxford Clay Formation of England. Stihnus is characterized by its relatively small size compared to some of its larger pliosaur relatives, as well as specific features of its skull and vertebral column.

Fossils attributed to Stihnus indicate it was a carnivorous predator that inhabited the shallow seas of the Late Jurassic period. Its diet likely consisted of fish and other marine invertebrates. The discovery of Stihnus has contributed to a greater understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships within the Pliosauria, a group of marine reptiles that dominated the oceans for millions of years. Further research and fossil discoveries are expected to shed more light on the paleobiology and ecological role of Stihnus.