griffinus

Griffinus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 130 to 120 million years ago. Griffinus is characterized by its elongated neck and relatively small head, common features among plesiosaurs. Fossil remains of Griffinus have been discovered in Europe, notably in the United Kingdom.

The genus was first described in 2008 based on fossil material that had been previously unassigned. Griffinus is considered a relatively small plesiosaur compared to some of its larger relatives. Its diet likely consisted of fish and other small marine animals. The specific ecological niche occupied by Griffinus within the Cretaceous marine environment is still a subject of scientific study.

The classification of Griffinus places it within the Elasmosauridae family, a group of long-necked plesiosaurs. Research into the evolutionary relationships of Griffinus continues to shed light on the diversity and development of plesiosaurs during the Mesozoic Era. The discovery and study of genera like Griffinus are crucial for understanding the ancient marine ecosystems of our planet.