issastavia

Issastavia is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 to 75 million years ago. Fossils attributed to issastavia have been discovered in the United States, primarily within the Western Interior Seaway.

The anatomy of issastavia suggests it was a medium-sized plesiosaur. Like other plesiosaurs, it possessed a long neck, a broad body, and paddle-like limbs adapted for swimming in the ancient seas. The exact number of cervical vertebrae and other detailed anatomical features are still subjects of ongoing research as new fossil evidence emerges.

The genus issastavia was first described in 1952 based on fragmentary remains. The type species, issastavia retusus, was named for its distinctive teeth. The discovery of issastavia contributes to our understanding of plesiosaur diversity and evolution in North America during the Cretaceous. Its presence indicates a rich marine ecosystem in the region. Further paleontological work is expected to refine the classification and evolutionary relationships of issastavia within the broader plesiosaur family tree.