esterikos

Esterikos 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. Esterikos fossils have been primarily found in the Western Interior Seaway of North America. They are characterized by their long necks, broad bodies, and paddle-like limbs, typical of plesiosaurs, adapted for aquatic locomotion.

The exact taxonomic placement of Esterikos within Plesiosauria is subject to ongoing scientific research and debate. While generally accepted as a plesiosaur, its precise relationships to other well-known groups like elasmosaurids or pliosaurids are not definitively established, often requiring further fossil discoveries to clarify its evolutionary lineage. Studies of its skeletal structure suggest it was a medium-sized plesiosaur, likely preying on fish and other small marine organisms.

The discovery of Esterikos contributes to our understanding of marine reptile diversity during the Cretaceous. Its presence in the Western Interior Seaway highlights the rich and complex ecosystem that existed in that ancient sea. Research into Esterikos fossils helps paleontologists reconstruct the paleoenvironment and the ecological roles played by these ancient marine predators.