helidena

Helidena is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria, specifically within the suborder Pliosauria. These were large, predatory marine creatures that inhabited the oceans during the Jurassic period, approximately 201 to 145 million years ago. The most notable characteristic of helidenas, like other pliosaurs, was their massive head and powerful jaws armed with conical teeth, suggesting they were apex predators of their time. Their bodies were streamlined and propelled by four large flippers, enabling them to navigate the ancient seas with considerable agility.

Fossil evidence of Helidena has been discovered in several locations, primarily in Europe. The genus was first described based on fossil remains that provided insights into its anatomy and evolutionary relationships. While the exact diversity within the genus is still a subject of ongoing research, Helidena is recognized for contributing to our understanding of pliosaur evolution and the marine ecosystems of the Jurassic. Their extinction, like that of many other marine reptiles, is linked to environmental changes and shifts in the food web at the end of the Jurassic or into the Cretaceous period. Studying helidenas helps paleontologists reconstruct the ancient oceans and the life that thrived within them.