beringianus

Beringianus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria, specifically within the family Elasmosauridae. Fossils attributed to Beringianus have been discovered in the Late Cretaceous deposits of Alaska, United States. The genus was first described in 2019, with Beringianus polaris being the type species.

The Elasmosauridae are characterized by their extremely long necks, short bodies, and large, paddle-like flippers. Beringianus shared these general plesiosaur features, though its specific anatomical details are still being studied as more fossil material becomes available. The discovery of Beringianus in high-latitude regions of the Arctic provides valuable insights into the distribution and paleobiogeography of plesiosaurs during the Cretaceous period. Its presence in these cooler waters suggests that some plesiosaurs were adapted to environments with significant seasonal variations. Further research on the skeletal remains of Beringianus is expected to reveal more about its diet, locomotion, and evolutionary relationships within the plesiosaurian lineage.