lántaki

Lántaki 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 Lántaki have been discovered in the United States, primarily within the Western Interior Seaway.

The genus Lántaki is characterized by a relatively short neck compared to many other pliosaurs, a group of short-necked plesiosaurs. While detailed anatomical descriptions are based on limited fossil material, Lántaki is understood to have been a formidable predator. Its diet likely consisted of fish and other marine organisms. The exact number of species within the genus Lántaki is subject to ongoing scientific debate, with some researchers considering certain specimens to be distinct, while others classify them under existing species.

The discovery of Lántaki contributes to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of marine reptiles during the Cretaceous. Its presence in the Western Interior Seaway indicates its role within that ancient ecosystem. Further fossil discoveries are crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of Lántaki's morphology, behavior, and evolutionary relationships within the broader context of plesiosaur paleontology.