abacusta

Abacusta is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 75 million years ago. Fossils attributed to Abacusta have been discovered in the United States, primarily within the Western Interior Seaway.

The defining characteristics of Abacusta include a relatively short neck compared to many other pliosaurs, a type of plesiosaur known for its powerful build and large head. Abacusta likely possessed a robust body and strong flippers, adapted for active swimming and predation in its marine environment. Its diet probably consisted of fish and other small marine animals.

The fossil record of Abacusta is not extensive, and its taxonomic classification has undergone some revision over time. While once considered a distinct genus, some paleontologists have suggested that Abacusta may represent juvenile specimens or represent variations within other known pliosaur genera. Further research and discovery of more complete fossil remains are needed to fully clarify its evolutionary relationships and precise characteristics. Nevertheless, Abacusta remains an interesting example of the diverse marine life that inhabited the Earth's oceans during the age of dinosaurs.