plakatus

Plakatus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria. These creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago. Plakatus fossils have been primarily found in North America, particularly in the western United States.

This genus is characterized by its relatively small size compared to other pliosaurs, a group of short-necked plesiosaurs. Plakatus individuals likely reached lengths of around 3 to 5 meters. Their anatomy suggests they were adapted for a predatory lifestyle, with a streamlined body, powerful flippers for propulsion, and a skull equipped with sharp teeth for capturing prey such as fish and squid.

The exact phylogenetic placement of Plakatus within Pliosauria has been subject to debate among paleontologists. Some studies suggest it is a basal member of the Pliosauridae family, while others propose a closer relationship to other groups of plesiosaurs. The limited fossil material available for Plakatus has contributed to these ongoing discussions. Its extinction, like that of many marine reptiles, is believed to have been linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.