ankeetides

Ankeetides is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These marine reptiles lived during the Early Jurassic period. The genus was first described in 1922 based on fossil remains discovered in England. Ankeetides are characterized by their relatively small size compared to other plesiosaurs, with estimated lengths of around 2 to 3 meters. They possessed the typical plesiosaur body plan, featuring a long neck, a broad torso, and four paddle-like limbs. The exact diet and specific behaviors of Ankeetides are not fully understood, but like other plesiosaurs, they were likely carnivorous, feeding on fish and other marine invertebrates. Their distribution appears to have been limited to Europe, with known fossil sites primarily in the United Kingdom. The classification of Ankeetides within Plesiosauria has been subject to some debate among paleontologists, with its exact phylogenetic position being refined through ongoing research and new fossil discoveries. The genus represents a part of the diverse marine ecosystem that existed during the Mesozoic Era.