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Plesiosauria (plesiosaur)

Reptilia - Plesiosauria

Taxonomy
Plesiosauria was named by de Blainville (1835). It was considered monophyletic by Gasparini et al. (2002).

It was reranked as the subclass Plesiosauria by Gadow (1898), Perrier (1928); it was reranked as the suborder Plesiosauria by Osborn (1904), Andrews (1910), Roxo (1937), Kuhn (1946), Delair (1960), Antunes (1964), Kuhn (1966), Welles and Gregg (1971), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Bardet et al. (1991), O'Keefe (2004), Hiller and Mannering (2005), Gasparini et al. (2015); it was reranked as the suborder Plesiosauri by Jaekel (1910), Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the suborder Plesiosaurida by Kuhn (1971); it was reranked as the unranked clade Plesiosauria by Storrs (1997), Nicholls and Meckert (2002), Hiller et al. (2005), Gasparini et al. (2007), Previtera and González Riga (2008), Otero et al. (2009), O'Gorman (2012), Otero et al. (2012), Mateus et al. (2012), Vincent and Benson (2012), O'Gorman and Gasparini (2013), O'Gorman et al. (2013), Otero and O'Gorman (2013), Gasparini and O'Gorman (2014), Benson and Druckenmiller (2014), O'Gorman et al. (2014), Otero et al. (2014), Otero et al. (2015), Araújo et al. (2015), Novas et al. (2015), O'Gorman et al. (2015), O'Gorman et al. (2015), Otero et al. (2016), Sachs et al. (2017), Serratos et al. (2017), Wintrich et al. (2017), O'Gorman et al. (2018), Otero et al. (2018), O'Gorman (2019), O'Gorman et al. (2019), Páramo-Fonseca et al. (2019), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Vincent et al. (2019), O'Gorman (2020), O’Gorman et al. (2020), Roberts et al. (2020), Meza-Velez and O'Gorman (2021), O'Gorman (2021), Otero and Soto-Acuña (2021), O'Gorman (2022), Moyano-Paz et al. (2022), O'Gorman et al. (2023), Zverkov et al. (2023), Clark et al. (2024), Otero (2024).

It was assigned to Synapsida by Osborn (1903); to Sauropterygii by Jaekel (1910), Jaekel (1911); to Catacritosauria by Hay (1930); to Sauropterygia by Osborn (1904), Andrews (1910), Roxo (1937), Kuhn (1946), Delair (1960), Antunes (1964), Kuhn (1966), Kuhn (1971), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Carroll (1988), Bardet et al. (1991); to Eusauropterygia by Rieppel (1994), Storrs (1997); to Reptilia by Gadow (1898), Hay (1902), Perrier (1928), Sepkoski (2002); to Pistosauria by O'Keefe (2001), Fabbri et al. (2013), Benson and Druckenmiller (2014); to Eosauropterygia by Araújo et al. (2015); to Sauropterygia by Welles and Gregg (1971), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Hiller and Mannering (2005), Gasparini et al. (2015); to Diapsida by Otero et al. (2012), Wintrich et al. (2017); to Sauropterygia by Brown (1981), Gasparini and Goñi (1985), Gasparini and Salgado (2000), Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki (2001), Cruickshank and Fordyce (2002), Hiller and Mannering (2004), O'Gorman and Varela (2010), O'Gorman et al. (2011), Otero et al. (2013), O'Gorman et al. (2013), Hiller et al. (2014), O'Gorman (2015), Araujo et al. (2015), O'Gorman et al. (2016), O'Gorman (2016), O'Gorman (2016), O'Gorman et al. (2017), O'Gorman and Coria (2017), O'Gorman et al. (2018), O’Gorman et al. (2018), O'Gorman et al. (2019), Miller et al. (2020), O'Gorman et al. (2021), Marx et al. (2021), O'Gorman and Otero (2023); to Sauropterygia by Osborn (1903), Gasparini (1997), Lazo and Cichowolski (2003), Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004), O'Keefe (2004), Druckenmiller and Russell (2008), Gomez-Perez and Noe (2011), Smith (2015), O'Gorman (2016), Smith and Araújo (2017), O'Gorman et al. (2018), O’Gorman et al. (2024); and to Sauropterygia by Nicholls and Meckert (2002), Gasparini et al. (2002), Hiller et al. (2005), Druckenmiller and Russell (2006), Gasparini et al. (2007), Salgado et al. (2007), Previtera and González Riga (2008), O'Keefe (2008), Otero et al. (2009), O'Gorman (2012), Mateus et al. (2012), Vincent and Benson (2012), O'Gorman and Gasparini (2013), O'Gorman et al. (2013), Otero and O'Gorman (2013), Gasparini and O'Gorman (2014), Otero et al. (2014), O'Gorman et al. (2014), O'Gorman et al. (2014), Otero et al. (2014), Otero et al. (2015), Novas et al. (2015), O'Gorman et al. (2015), O'Gorman et al. (2015), Otero et al. (2016), Hiller et al. (2017), Sachs et al. (2017), Serratos et al. (2017), O'Gorman et al. (2018), Otero et al. (2018), O'Gorman (2019), O'Gorman et al. (2019), Páramo-Fonseca et al. (2019), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Vincent et al. (2019), O'Gorman (2020), O’Gorman et al. (2020), Zverkov and Pervushov (2020), Roberts et al. (2020), O'Gorman et al. (2021), Meza-Velez and O'Gorman (2021), O'Gorman (2021), Otero and Soto-Acuña (2021), O'Gorman (2022), Moyano-Paz et al. (2022), O'Gorman et al. (2023), Zverkov et al. (2023), Ceballos-Izquierdo et al. (2023), Clark et al. (2024), Otero (2024).

Subtaxa
Aptychodon, Aptychodon cretaceus, Bathyspondylus, Cimoliasaurus lissaensis, Cimoliasaurus teplicensis, Cimoliosaurus nazarowi, Discosaurus planior, Elasmosaurus intermedius, Elasmosaurus orientalis, Embaphias, Embaphias circulosus, Eoplesiosaurus, Eretmosaurus, Gymocetus, Hexatarsostinus, Hunosaurus fasseli, Iserosaurus littoralis, Lindwurmia, Lutkesaurus, Mauisaurus brachiolatus, Megalneusaurus, Namuncurania, Neoplesiosauria, Nothosaurops, Oligosimus, Oligosimus grandaevus, Orophosaurus, Orophosaurus pauciporus, Peloneustes kanzleri, Piptomerus, Piptomerus hexagonus, Piptomerus megaloporus, Piptomerus microporus, Piratosaurus, Piratosaurus plicatus, Plesiosauriformes, Plesiosauroidea (syn. Dolichodeira), Plesiosaurus affinis, Plesiosaurus australis, Plesiosaurus balticus, Plesiosaurus bernardi, Plesiosaurus brachistospondylus, Plesiosaurus brevifemur, Plesiosaurus brevis, Plesiosaurus continuus, Plesiosaurus cycnodeirus, Plesiosaurus degenhardti, Plesiosaurus ellipsospondylus, Plesiosaurus euryspondylus, Plesiosaurus gouldii, Plesiosaurus hexagonalis, Plesiosaurus infraplanus, Plesiosaurus latispinus, Plesiosaurus levis, Plesiosaurus lockwoodii, Plesiosaurus megapleuron, Plesiosaurus microdeirus, Plesiosaurus mudgei, Plesiosaurus neocomiensis, Plesiosaurus nordmanni, Plesiosaurus ophiodeirus, Plesiosaurus pachyomus, Plesiosaurus phillipsi (syn. Plesiosaurus carinatus), Plesiosaurus planispondylus, Plesiosaurus planus, Plesiosaurus planus trigonalis, Plesiosaurus platydeirus, Plesiosaurus poecilospondylus, Plesiosaurus shirleyensis, Plesiosaurus subdepressus, Plesiosaurus traversii, Plesiosaurus truncatus, Plesiosaurus validus, Plesiosaurus winspitensis, Pliosauroidea (syn. Brachydeira), Pliosaurus planus, Plistosauroidea, Polycotylus donicus, Polycotylus epigurgitis, Polycotylus orientalis, Polycotylus tenuis, Polycotylus ultimus, Polyptychodon, Polyptychodon neocomiensis, Rhaeticosaurus, Rhomaleosauridae (syn. Thaumatosauridae), Scarrisaurus, Stereosaurus cratynotus, Stereosaurus platyomus, Stereosaurus stenomus, Stratesaurus, Sulmosaurus, Taphrosaurus, Teleosaurus neogaeus, Uronautes, Uronautes cetiformis, Xenopsaria, Zahrisaurus

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1835Plesiosauria de Blainville
1840Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen p. 74
1840Plesiosaurus affinis Owen p. 86
1841Polyptychodon Owen
1841Polyptychodon continuus Owen p. 19 figs. Pl. 72, fig. 13
1842Polyptychodon Owen p. 156
1845Polyptychodon Meyer p. 283
1850Plesiosaurus bernardi Owen p. 396
1851Polyptychodon continuus Owen p. 47 figs. plate 14, figs 4-6
1853Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen
1854Plesiosaurus brevis Owen
1854Plesiosaurus levis Owen
1854Plesiosaurus truncatus Owen p. 59
1854Plesiosaurus megapleuron Owen p. 60
1854Plesiosaurus latispinus Owen p. 63
1854Plesiosaurus subdepressus Owen p. 63
1855Aptychodon cretaceus Reuss p. 86 figs. pl. 15
1860Plesiosaurus neocomiensis Campiche p. 42
1860Plesiosaurus planispondylus Damon
1860Polyptychodon Owen p. 235
1861Teleosaurus neogaeus Burmeister and Giebel
1861Plesiosaurus australis Owen p. 122
1861Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen p. 244
1861Polyptychodon Owen p. 255
1864Plesiosaurus bernardi Owen p. 1
1864Plesiosaurus latispinus Owen p. 1
1864Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen p. 1
1864Plesiosaurus planus Owen pp. 2-7 figs. plates 1-3
1864Plesiosaurus planus trigonalis Owen p. 6 figs. pl. 3, figs 1-4
1865Piratosaurus plicatus Leidy pp. 29, 116 figs. pl. 19, fig. 8
1869Plesiosaurus lockwoodii Cope p. 40
1869Elasmosaurus orientalis Cope p. 55
1869Cimoliasaurus latispinus Cope p. 266
1869Crymocetus barnardi Cope p. 266
1869Elasmosaurus orientalis Cope p. 266
1869Plesiosaurus continuus Eichwald p. 1274
1869Plesiosaurus nordmanni Eichwald p. 1276
1869Plesiosaurus cycnodeirus Seeley pp. xvii, 41
1869Plesiosaurus euryspondylus Seeley pp. xviii, 41
1869Plesiosaurus microdeirus Seeley pp. xviii, 40
1869Plesiosaurus ophiodeirus Seeley pp. xviii, 44
1869Plesiosaurus platydeirus Seeley pp. xviii, 41
1869Plesiosaurus poecilospondylus Seeley pp. xviii, 48
1869Stereosaurus cratynotus Seeley pp. xviii, 44
1869Stereosaurus platyomus Seeley pp. xviii, 43
1869Stereosaurus stenomus Seeley pp. xviii, 43
1869Plesiosaurus planus Seeley p. 41
1870Taphrosaurus lockwoodii Cope p. 274
1870Plesiosaurus brachistospondylus Hulke p. 611
1870Discosaurus planior Leidy
1870Discosaurus orientalis Leidy p. 22
1871Plesiosaurus ellipsospondylus Phillips
1871Plesiosaurus validus Phillips p. 370
1871Plesiosaurus infraplanus Phillips p. 374
1871Plesiosaurus hexagonalis Phillips pp. 375, 376 fig. CLXXVI
1871Plesiosaurus phillipsi Sauvage p. 21
1871Plesiosaurus winspitensis Seeley p. 185 figs. page 182, 183
1872Oligosimus grandaevus Leidy p. 40
1873Oligosimus grandaevus Leidy p. 286
1874Mauisaurus brachiolatus Hector pp. errata slip
1874Plesiosaurus australis Hector p. 338
1874Plesiosaurus traversii Hector p. 344
1874Polycotylus tenuis Hector p. 345
1874Mauisaurus latibrachialis Hector p. 350
1875Cimoliasaurus planior Cope
1875Plesiosaurus brevifemur Cope p. 256
1876Uronautes cetiformis Cope p. 346
1883Pliosaurus planus Hulke p. 59
1883Lutkesaurus Kiprijanoff p. 35
1884Plesiosaurus smithi Owen p. 4
1885Plesiosaurus balticus Schröder p. 297
1887Piptomerus megaloporus Cope p. 564
1887Orophosaurus pauciporus Cope p. 565
1887Piptomerus hexagonus Cope p. 565
1887Piptomerus microporus Cope p. 565
1887Plesiosaurus degenhardti Koken p. 106
1889Polyptychodon Lydekker p. 172
1889Cimoliosaurus bernardi Lydekker p. 185
1889Cimoliosaurus tenuis Lydekker p. 188
1889Cimoliosaurus brachistospondylus Lydekker p. 200
1889Cimoliosaurus smithi Lydekker p. 215
1889Cimoliosaurus planus Lydekker p. 217
1889Cimoliosaurus australis Lydekker p. 220
1889Cimoliosaurus latispinus Lydekker p. 222
1889Cimoliosaurus neocomiensis Lydekker p. 223
1889Cimoliosaurus truncatus Lydekker p. 227
1892Polyptychodon Seeley p. 151
1894Embaphias circulosus Cope p. 111
1894Elasmosaurus intermedius Cope p. 112
1894Plesiosaurus mudgei Cragin p. 69 figs. 1-3 & pl. 1
1897Plesiosaurus gouldii Williston p. 57
1898Plesiosauria Gadow p. 23
1900Plesiosaurus shirleyensis Knight p. 115
1902Plesiosauria Hay p. 455
1902Piratosaurus plicatus Hay p. 456
1902Plesiosaurus brevifemur Hay p. 456
1902Plesiosaurus gouldii Hay p. 456
1902Plesiosaurus lockwoodii Hay p. 456
1902Plesiosaurus mudgei Hay p. 456
1902Plesiosaurus shirleyensis Hay p. 456
1902Piptomerus hexagonus Hay p. 457
1902Piptomerus megaloporus Hay p. 457
1902Piptomerus microporus Hay p. 457
1902Uronautes cetiformis Hay p. 457
1902Elasmosaurus intermedius Hay p. 458
1902Elasmosaurus orientalis Hay p. 458
1902Cimoliasaurus planior Hay p. 459
1902Embaphias circulosus Hay p. 459
1902Oligosimus grandaevus Hay p. 459
1902Orophosaurus pauciporus Hay p. 459
1903Plesiosauria Osborn p. 276
1903Cimoliasaurus planior Williston p. 7
1903Plesiosaurus brevifemur Williston p. 7
1903Plesiosaurus gouldii Williston p. 7
1903Plesiosaurus mudgei Williston p. 7
1903Elasmosaurus intermedius Williston p. 9
1903Elasmosaurus orientalis Williston p. 9
1903Oligosimus grandaevus Williston p. 10
1903Piratosaurus plicatus Williston p. 10
1903Taphrosaurus lockwoodii Williston p. 10
1903Orophosaurus pauciporus Williston p. 11
1903Piptomerus hexagonus Williston p. 11
1903Piptomerus megaloporus Williston p. 11
1903Piptomerus microporus Williston p. 11
1903Uronautes cetiformis Williston p. 11
1903Embaphias circulosus Williston p. 12
1904Plesiosauria Osborn p. 100
1905Cimoliasaurus lissaensis Fritsch p. 15 figs. pl. 6, figs 6-8
1905Iserosaurus litoralis Fritsch p. 20
1905Hunosaurus fasseli Fritsch p. 25 figs. 25–29; Pl. 7:1–4
1905Plesiosaurus kanzleri Koken p. 691 fig. 7
1906Cimoliasaurus orientalis Williston p. 227
1907Cimoliasaurus teplicensis Fritsch p. 1 fig. 1
1908Piratosaurus plicatus Williston p. 735
1910Plesiosauria Andrews p. 77
1910Plesiosauri Jaekel p. 335
1910Polyptychodon neocomiensis Schardt p. 335 figs. 1-2
1910Plesiosaurus (Polyptychodon) Wieland
1911Cimoliosaurus nazarowi Bogolubov
1911Polycotylus epigurgitis Bogolubov p. 316 figs. 9, figs 5-6
1911Polycotylus balticus Bogolubov p. 337
1911Polycotylus orientalis Bogolubov p. 339 figs. pl. 13, figs 1-3, 5-7, 9-11
1911Polycotylus ultimus Bogolubov p. 348 figs. pl. 12, figs 4-6
1911Cimoliosaurus nazarowi Bogolubov p. 379 figs. pl. 3, figs4, 8, 12
1911Plesiosauri Jaekel p. 149
1911Muraenosaurus truncatus Sauvage pp. 186-215
1913Peloneustes kanzleri Linder p. 341
1915Trinacromerum orientale Pravoslavlev p. 13
1915Trinacromerum ultimum Pravoslavlev p. 14
1915Polycotylus donicus Pravoslavlev p. 17 figs. pl. 1
1928Plesiosauria Perrier p. 3118
1930Plesiosauria Hay p. 113
1930Plesiosaurus brevifemur Hay p. 116
1930Plesiosaurus gouldii Hay p. 116
1930Plesiosaurus mudgei Hay p. 116
1930Plesiosaurus shirleyensis Hay p. 116
1930Elasmosaurus intermedius Hay p. 118
1930Discosaurus planior Hay p. 120
1930Embaphias circulosus Hay p. 120
1930Oligosimus grandaevus Hay p. 121
1930Orophosaurus pauciporus Hay p. 121
1930Piptomerus hexagonus Hay p. 121
1930Piptomerus megaloporus Hay p. 121
1930Piptomerus microporus Hay p. 121
1930Taphrosaurus lockwoodi Hay p. 121
1930Uronautes cetiformis Hay p. 121
1930Piratosaurus plicatus Hay p. 122
1937Plesiosauria Roxo p. 43
1940Polyptychodon White p. 465
1946Plesiosauria Kuhn p. 59
1960Plesiosauria Delair p. 52
1960Muraenosaurus truncatus Delair pp. 60-61
1960Colymbosaurus brachistospondylus Delair p. 64
1960Colymbosaurus megapleuron Delair p. 65
1960Scanisaurus nazarowi Persson pp. 447-459 figs. 6, 7
1963Polycotylus epigurgitis Persson p. 21
1963Polycotylus orientalis Persson p. 21
1963Polycotylus ultimus Persson p. 21
1963Polyptychodon Welles and Slaughter p. 131
1964Plesiosauria Antunes p. 133
1966Plesiosauria Kuhn p. 113
1971Plesiosaurida Kuhn p. 20
1971Plesiosauria Welles and Gregg p. 22
1981Plesiosauria Brown p. 339
1981Plesiosauria Thurmond and Jones p. 138
1985Plesiosauria Gasparini and Goñi
1986Plesiosauria Wiffen and Moisley p. 207
1988Plesiosauria Carroll
1991Plesiosauria Bardet et al. p. 1346
1994Plesiosauria Rieppel p. 4
1997Polycotylus tenuis Adams p. 182
1997Plesiosauria Gasparini p. 136
1997Plesiosauria Storrs p. 149
2000Plesiosauria Gasparini and Salgado p. 14
2001Plesiosauria Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki
2001Plesiosauria O'Keefe p. 19 fig. 20
2002Plesiosauria Cruickshank and Fordyce p. 562
2002Plesiosauria Gasparini et al.
2002Plesiosauria Nicholls and Meckert p. 1593
2002Plesiosauria Sepkoski
2002Polyptychodon Sepkoski
2003Plesiosauria Lazo and Cichowolski p. 785
2004Plesiosauria Hiller and Mannering p. 1
2004Plesiosauria Martinelli and Forasiepi p. 260
2004Plesiosauria O'Keefe p. 973
2005Plesiosauria Hiller and Mannering p. 30
2006Plesiosauria Druckenmiller and Russell p. 186
2007Plesiosauria Gasparini et al. p. 190
2007Plesiosauria Salgado et al. p. 352
2008Plesiosauria Druckenmiller and Russell p. 6
2008Plesiosauria O'Keefe p. 665
2008Plesiosauria Previtera and González Riga
2009Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 345
2010Plesiosauria O'Gorman and Varela
2011Plesiosauria Gomez-Perez and Noe
2011Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 130
2012Plesiosauria Mateus et al. p. 78
2012Plesiosauria O'Gorman
2012Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 128
2012Plesiosauria Vincent and Benson p. 1050
2013Plesiosauria Fabbri et al. figs. 2, 3A
2013Plesiosauria O'Gorman and Gasparini
2013Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 262
2013Plesiosauria Otero and O'Gorman
2013Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 774
2014Plesiosauria Benson and Druckenmiller figs. 2-3
2014Plesiosauria Gasparini and O'Gorman
2014Plesiosauria Hiller et al. pp. 28-29
2014Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 43
2014Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2014Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 103
2015Plesiosauria Araujo et al. p. 94
2015Plesiosauria Araújo et al. p. 2
2015Polyptychodon Bardet et al. p. 9
2015Plesiosauria Gasparini et al.
2015Plesiosauria Novas et al. p. 564
2015Plesiosauria O'Gorman p. 189
2015Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 376
2015Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2015Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 242
2015Plesiosauria Smith
2016Plesiosauria O'Gorman p. 11
2016Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. pp. 62-65
2016Plesiosauria Otero et al.
2017Plesiosauria Hiller et al.
2017Plesiosauria O'Gorman and Coria p. 242
2017Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 120
2017Plesiosauria Sachs et al.
2017Plesiosauria Serratos et al.
2017Plesiosauria Smith and Araújo
2017Plesiosauria Wintrich et al.
2018Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 250
2018Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 162
2018Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2018Plesiosauria Otero et al. p. 216
2018Plesiosauria O’Gorman et al.
2019Plesiosauria O'Gorman
2019Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 215
2019Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al. p. 40
2019Plesiosauria Páramo-Fonseca et al.
2019Plesiosauria Vincent and Storrs
2019Plesiosauria Vincent et al.
2020Plesiosauria Miller et al. p. 97
2020Plesiosauria O'Gorman
2020Plesiosauria O’Gorman et al. p. 3
2020Plesiosauria Roberts et al.
2020Plesiosauria Zverkov and Pervushov
2021Plesiosauria Marx et al. p. 9
2021Plesiosauria Meza-Velez and O'Gorman
2021Plesiosauria O'Gorman
2021Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2021Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2021Plesiosauria Otero and Soto-Acuña p. 7
2022Plesiosauria Moyano-Paz et al. p. 17
2022Plesiosauria O'Gorman
2023Plesiosauria Ceballos-Izquierdo et al. p. 5
2023Plesiosauria O'Gorman et al.
2023Plesiosauria O'Gorman and Otero p. 78
2023Plesiosauria Zverkov et al. p. 3
2024Plesiosauria Clark et al. p. 2
2024Plesiosauria Otero p. 4
2024Plesiosauria O’Gorman et al. p. 4

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
—Romeriida
—Diapsida()
suborderSauropterygia
orderPlesiosauriade Blainville 1835
orderPlesiosauriade Blainville 1835

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Or. †Plesiosauria de Blainville 1835 [plesiosaur]
show all | hide all
G. †Aptychodon Reuss 1855
G. †Bathyspondylus Delair 1982
+
G. †Crymocetus Romer 1966
G. †Embaphias Cope 1894
G. †Eoplesiosaurus Benson et al. 2012
+
†Eoplesiosaurus antiquior Benson et al. 2012
G. †Eretmosaurus Seeley 1874
+
†Eretmosaurus dubius Tate and Blake 1876
†Eretmosaurus rugosus Owen 1840
G. †Hexatarsostinus Hawkins 1840
G. †Lindwurmia Vincent and Storrs 2019
+
†Lindwurmia thiuda Vincent and Storrs 2019
G. †Megalneusaurus Knight 1898
+
†Megalneusaurus rex Knight 1895
G. †Namuncurania Rusconi 1943
G. †Nothosaurops Leidy 1870
G. †Oligosimus Leidy 1872
G. †Orophosaurus Cope 1851
G. †Piptomerus Cope 1887
G. †Piratosaurus Leidy 1865
Superfm. †Plesiosauroidea Welles 1943
+
Unr. †Cryptoclidia Ketchum and Benson 2010
+
Invalid names: Cryptocleidoidea Williston 1925 [replaced]
Fm. †Cryptoclididae Williston 1925
+
G. †Abyssosaurus Berezin 2011
+
†Abyssosaurus nataliae Berezin 2011
G. †Colymbosaurus Seeley 1874
+
†Colymbosaurus sclerodirus Bogolubov 1911
+
Invalid names: Colymbosaurus megadeirus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Plesiosaurus manselii Hulke 1870 [synonym], Pliosaurus portlandicus Owen 1869 [synonym]
G. †Cryptoclidus Seeley 1892
+
†Cryptocleidus cuervoi caroli Torre and Rojas 1949
†Cryptoclidus eurymerus Phillips 1871
+
Invalid names: Apractocleidus teretipes Smellie 1915 [synonym], Cryptoclidus platymerus Seeley 1892 [synonym], Plesiosaurus durobrivensis Seeley 1892 [synonym]
†Cryptoclidus richardsoni Lydekker 1889
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus plicatus Mansel-Pleydell 1888 [synonym]
Invalid names: Apractocleidus Smellie 1915 [objective synonym], Cryptocleidus cuervoi Torre and Rojas 1949 [nomen dubium], Cryptoclidus vignalensis Torre and Cuervo 1939 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus oxfordiensis Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus oxoniensis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium]
G. †Djupedalia Knutsen et al. 2012
+
†Djupedalia engeri Knutsen et al. 2012
G. †Kimmerosaurus Brown 1981
+
†Kimmerosaurus langhami Brown 1981
G. †Muraenosaurus Seeley 1874
+
†Muraenosaurus fahrenkohli Waldheim 1846
†Muraenosaurus leedsii Seeley 1874
+
Invalid names: Cimoliosaurus plicatus Phillips 1871 [synonym], Muraenosaurus platyclis Seeley 1892 [synonym], Muraenosaurus plicatus Phillips 1871 [synonym], Tremamesacleis durobrivensis Lydekker 1889 [synonym]
†Muraenosaurus purbecki Bogolubov 1911
Invalid names: Tremamesacleis White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Ophthalmothule Roberts et al. 2020
+
†Ophthalmothule cryostea Roberts et al. 2020
G. †Pantosaurus Marsh 1893
+
†Pantosaurus striatus Marsh 1891
+
Invalid names: Muraenosaurus reedii Mehl 1912 [synonym]
Invalid names: Parasaurus Marsh 1891 [replaced]
G. †Picrocleidus Andrews 1909
+
†Picrocleidus beloclis Seeley 1892
G. †Spitrasaurus Knutsen et al. 2012
+
†Spitrasaurus larseni Knutsen et al. 2012
†Spitrasaurus wensaasi Knutsen et al. 2012
G. †Tatenectes O'Keefe and Wahl, Jr. 2003
+
†Tatenectes laramiensis Knight 1900
G. †Tricleidus Andrews 1909
+
†Tricleidus seeleyi Andrews 1909
G. †Vinialesaurus Gasparini et al. 2002
+
†Vinialesaurus caroli Torre and Rojas 1949
Invalid names: Cryptoclidus aldingeri von Huene 1932 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Elasmosauridae Cope 1869 [elasmosaur]
+
G. †Alexeyisaurus Sennikov and Arkhangelsky 2010
+
†Alexeyisaurus karnoushenkoi Sennikov and Arkhangelsky 2010
Subfm. †Alzadasaurinae
+
G. †Alzadasaurus Welles 1943
G. †Ogmodirus Williston and Moodie 1913
+
Invalid names: Ogmodirus martinii Williston and Moodie 1917 [nomen dubium]
G. †Callawayasaurus Carpenter 1999
+
G. †Cardiocorax Araújo et al. 2015
+
†Cardiocorax mukulu Araújo et al. 2015
G. †Chubutinectes O'Gorman et al. 2023
+
†Chubutinectes carmeloi O'Gorman et al. 2023
G. †Cimoliasaurus Leidy 1851
+
†Cimoliasaurus magnus Leidy 1851
†Cimoliosaurus magnus Leidy 1851
†Cimoliosaurus snowii Williston 1890
Invalid names: Brimosaurus grandis Leidy 1855 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus brevior Lydekker 1889 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus maccoyi Etheridge 1904 [nomen dubium], Hunosaurus Fritsch 1905 [synonym], Iserosaurus Fritsch 1905 [synonym]
G. †Eromangasaurus Kear 2005
+
Unr. †Euelasmosaurida O'Gorman 2019
+
+
G. †Albertonectes Kubo et al. 2012
G. †Hydrotherosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Nakonanectes Serratos et al. 2017
G. †Styxosaurus Welles 1943
+
Invalid names: Hydralmosaurus Welles 1943 [synonym]
G. †Terminonatator Sato 2003
Invalid names: Styxosaurinae Otero 2016 [synonym]
G. †Libonectes Carpenter 1997 [southwest diver]
+
†Libonectes morgani Welles 1949
+
Invalid names: Libonectes atlasense Buchy 2005 [synonym]
G. †Thalassomedon Welles 1943
+
+
Invalid names: Alzadasaurus riggsi Welles 1943 [synonym]
G. †Fluvionectes Campbell et al. 2021
+
†Fluvionectes sloanae Campbell et al. 2021
G. †Fresnosaurus Welles 1943
+
†Fresnosaurus drescheri Welles 1943
G. †Gronausaurus Hampe 2013
+
†Gronausaurus wegneri Hampe 2013
G. †Jucha Fischer et al. 2020
+
†Jucha squalea Fischer et al. 2020
G. †Lagenanectes Sachs et al. 2017
+
†Lagenanectes richterae Sachs et al. 2017
G. †Leivanectes Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2019
+
†Leivanectes bernardoi Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2019
G. †Leurospondylus Brown 1913
+
†Leurospondylus ultimus Brown 1913
G. †Scanisaurus Persson 1960
G. †Stereosaurus Seeley 1869
G. †Thalassiosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Thalassonomosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Wapuskanectes Druckenmiller and Russell 2006
+
†Wapuskanectes betsynichollsae Druckenmiller and Russell 2006
Unr. †Weddellonectia O'Gorman and Coria 2017
+
G. †Aphrosaurus Welles 1943
+
†Aphrosaurus furlongi Welles 1943
Subfm. †Aristonectinae Otero et al. 2012
+
G. †Alexandronectes Otero et al. 2016
G. †Aristonectes Cabrera 1941
+
Invalid names: Turneria Chatterjee and Small 1989 [synonym]
G. †Morturneria Chatterjee and Creisler 1994
G. †Wunyelfia Otero and Soto-Acuña 2021
Invalid names: Mauisaurus Hector 1874 [nomen dubium], Mauisaurus haasti Hector 1874 [nomen dubium], Tuarangisaurus cabazai Gasparini et al. 2003 [nomen dubium]
G. †Futabasaurus Sato et al. 2006
+
†Futabasaurus suzukii Sato et al. 2006 [Futaba Suzuki Ryu]
G. †Kaiwhekea Cruickshank and Fordyce 2002
+
†Kaiwhekea katiki Cruickshank and Fordyce 2002
G. †Kawanectes O'Gorman 2016
+
†Kawanectes lafquenianum Gasparini and Goni 1985
G. †Marambionectes O’Gorman et al. 2024
+
†Marambionectes molinai O’Gorman et al. 2024
G. †Morenosaurus Welles 1943
+
†Morenosaurus stocki Welles 1943
G. †Tuarangisaurus Wiffen and Moisley 1986
+
†Tuarangisaurus keyesi Wiffen and Moisley 1986
G. †Vegasaurus O'Gorman et al. 2015
+
†Vegasaurus molyi O'Gorman et al. 2015
G. †Zarafasaura Vincent et al. 2011
+
†Zarafasaura oceanis Vincent et al. 2011
Invalid names: Alzadasaurus kansasensis Welles 1952 [nomen dubium], Alzadasaurus tropicus Colbert 1949 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasauridae Delair 1959 [synonym], Cimoliasaurus andium Deecke 1895 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus cantabrigiensis Lydekker 1889 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus caudalis Hutton 1894 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus amalitskii Pravoslavlev 1916 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus kurskensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus orskensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus serdobensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus sternbergi Williston 1906 [nomen dubium], Mauisaurus gardneri Seeley 1878 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus constrictus Owen 1850 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus crassicostatus Owen 1870 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus gulo Cope 1872 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus gurgitis Renevier 1858 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus helmersenii Kiprijanoff 1882 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus holmesii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus hoodii Owen 1870 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus mackayii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus mauritanicus Arambourg 1952 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus sutherlandi McCoy 1867 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus gigas Schröder 1885 [nomen vanum], Pliosaurus macrospondylus McCoy 1867 [nomen dubium], Thalassiosaurus ischiadicus Williston 1903 [nomen dubium], Thalassonomosaurus nobilis Williston 1906 [nomen dubium], Woolungasaurus Persson 1960 [nomen dubium], Woolungasaurus glendowerensis Persson 1960 [nomen dubium]
G. †Franconiasaurus Sachs et al. 2024
+
†Franconiasaurus brevispinus Sachs et al. 2024
Unr. †Leptocleidia Ketchum and Benson 2010
+
Fm. †Leptocleididae White 1940
+
G. †Brancasaurus Wegner 1914
+
†Brancasaurus brancai Wegner 1914
G. †Hastanectes Benson et al. 2013
+
†Hastanectes valdensis Lydekker 1889
G. †Leptocleidus Andrews 1922
+
†Leptocleidus capensis Andrews 1911
†Leptocleidus clemai Cruickshank and Long 1997
†Leptocleidus superstes Andrews 1922
Invalid names: Peyerus Stromer 1935 [synonym]
G. †Nichollssaura Druckenmiller and Russell 2009
+
†Nichollssaura borealis Druckenmiller and Russell 2009
+
Invalid names: Nichollsia borealis Druckenmiller and Russell 2008 [replaced]
Invalid names: Nichollsia Druckenmiller and Russell 2008 [replaced]
G. †Umoonasaurus Kear et al. 2006
+
†Umoonasaurus demoscyllus Kear et al. 2006
G. †Vectocleidus Benson et al. 2013
+
†Vectocleidus pastorum Benson et al. 2013
Invalid names: Leptocleidoidea Druckenmiller and Russell 2008 [replaced]
Fm. †Microcleididae Benson et al. 2012
+
G. †Microcleidus Watson 1909
+
†Microcleidus macropterus Seeley 1865
†Microcleidus melusinae Vincent et al. 2019
†Microcleidus tournemirensis Sciau et al. 1990
Invalid names: Occitanosaurus Bardet et al. 1999 [synonym]
G. †Seeleyosaurus White 1940
+
+
Invalid names: Seeleyosaurus holzmadensis White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Opallionectes Kear 2006
+
G. †Plesiopharos Puértolas-Pascual et al. 2021
+
†Plesiopharos moelensis Puértolas-Pascual et al. 2021
G. †Plesiopterys O'Keefe 2004
+
†Plesiopterys wildi O'Keefe 2004
Fm. †Plesiosauridae Gray 1825
+
G. †Hydrorion Grossmann 2007
G. †Lusonectes Smith et al. 2012
+
†Lusonectes sauvagei Smith et al. 2012
G. †Thaumatosaurus Meyer 1841
+
+
Invalid names: Liopleurodon bucklandi Sauvage 1873 [synonym]
Invalid names: Brancasauridae White 1940 [synonym], Muraenosauridae White 1940 [synonym], Plesiosaurus neogaeus Burmeister 1861 [nomen vanum], Tremamesacleididae White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Plesiosaurus de la Beche and Conybeare 1821
+
†Plesiosaurus bavaricus Dames 1895
†Plesiosaurus bitractensis Sauvage 1883
†Plesiosaurus carinatus Cuvier 1824
†Plesiosaurus cliduchus Seeley 1865
†Plesiosaurus costatus Owen 1840
†Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus Conybeare 1824
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus homei Gray 1831 [synonym], Plesiosaurus macromus Owen 1840 [synonym]
†Plesiosaurus exarsostinus Hawkins 1834
†Plesiosaurus grandis Owen 1840
†Plesiosaurus hesternus Welles 1953
†Plesiosaurus houzeaui Dollo 1909
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus brachycephalus Owen 1840 [synonym]
†Plesiosaurus macrodeirus Seeley 1869
†Plesiosaurus mexicanus Wieland 1910
†Plesiosaurus nitidus Phillips 1871
†Plesiosaurus trigonus Cuvier 1824
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus elasmosaurus Finzel 1964 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus priscus Parkinson 1822 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Polycotylidae Williston 1908
+
G. †Ceraunosaurus Thurmond 1968
G. †Edgarosaurus Druckenmiller 2002
+
†Edgarosaurus muddi Druckenmiller 2002
G. †Manemergus Buchy et al. 2005
+
†Manemergus anguirostris Buchy et al. 2005
G. †Mauriciosaurus Frey et al. 2017
+
†Mauriciosaurus fernandezi Frey et al. 2017
G. †Pahasapasaurus Schumacher 2007
+
†Pahasapasaurus haasi Schumacher 2007
Subfm. †Palmulainae Albright et al. 2007
+
G. †Palmulasaurus Albright et al. 2007
+
†Palmulasaurus quadratus Albright et al. 2007
Invalid names: Palmula Albright et al. 2007 [replaced]
G. †Plesiopleurodon Carpenter 1996
+
†Plesiopleurodon wellesi Carpenter 1996
Subfm. †Polycotylinae Albright et al. 2007
+
Unr. †Dolichorhynchia Clark et al. 2024
+
G. †Dolichorhynchops Williston 1902
G. †Martinectes Clark et al. 2024
G. †Unktaheela Clark et al. 2024
G. †Eopolycotylus Albright et al. 2007
+
†Eopolycotylus rankini Albright et al. 2007
G. †Georgiasaurus Ochev 1977
+
†Georgiasaurus penzensis Otschev 1976
Invalid names: Georgia Otschev 1976 [replaced]
G. †Polycotylus Cope 1869
+
+
Invalid names: Polycotylus dolichopus Williston 1906 [synonym]
†Polycotylus sopozkoi Efimov et al. 2016
†Polycotylus suprajurensis Sauvage 1876
G. †Scalamagnus Clark et al. 2024
+
†Scalamagnus tropicensis Schmeisser McKean 2012
G. †Serpentisuchops Persons IV et al. 2022
+
†Serpentisuchops pfisterae Persons IV et al. 2022
G. †Trinacromerum Cragin 1888
+
+
Invalid names: Ceraunosaurus brownorum Thurmond 1968 [synonym], Trinacromerum anonymum Williston 1903 [synonym], Trinacromerum willistoni Riggs 1944 [synonym]
†Trinacromerum kirki Russell 1935
G. †Sulcusuchus Gasparini and Spalletti 1990
+
†Sulcusuchus erraini Gasparini and Spalletti 1990
G. †Thililua Bardet et al. 2003
+
†Thililua longicollis Bardet et al. 2003
Invalid names: Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus Etheridge, Jr. 1897 [nomen dubium], Dolichorhynchopidae Welles 1962 [synonym], Palmulasaurinae Albright et al. 2007 [empty], Polycotyilnae Albright et al. 2007 [empty]
G. †Sthenarosaurus Watson 1909
+
†Sthenarosaurus dawkinsi Watson 1909
G. †Westphaliasaurus Schwermann and Sander 2011
+
†Westphaliasaurus simonsensii Schwermann and Sander 2011
Invalid names: Cimoliosaurus limnophilus Koken 1887 [nomen dubium], Dolichodeira Seeley 1892 [synonym], Euplesiosauria O'Keefe 2001 [empty]
Superfm. †Pliosauroidea Welles 1943
+
Fm. †Pliosauridae Seeley 1874
+
G. †Acostasaurus Gomez-Perez and Noe 2011
+
†Acostasaurus pavachoquensis Gomez-Perez and Noe 2011
G. †Anguanax Cau and Fanti 2016
+
†Anguanax zignoi Cau and Fanti 2016
G. †Arminisaurus Sachs and Kear 2017
+
†Arminisaurus schuberti Sachs and Kear 2017
G. †Attenborosaurus Bakker 1993
+
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus laticeps Owen 1867 [synonym]
G. †Cryonectes Vincent et al. 2013
+
†Cryonectes neustriacus Vincent et al. 2013
G. †Hauffiosaurus O'Keefe 2001
+
†Hauffiosaurus longirostris Tate and Blake 1876
†Hauffiosaurus tomistomimus Benson et al. 2011
†Hauffiosaurus zanoni O'Keefe 2001
G. †Marmornectes Ketchum and Benson 2011
+
†Marmornectes candrewi Ketchum and Benson 2011
G. †Pachycostasaurus Cruickshank et al. 1996
+
†Pachycostasaurus dawni Cruickshank et al. 1996
+
†Polyptchodon rugosus Emmons 1858
G. †Sinopliosaurus Young 1944
+
G. †Stenorhynchosaurus Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2016
+
†Stenorhynchosaurus munozi Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2016
G. †Strongylokrotaphus Novozhilov 1964
G. †Thalassiodracon Storrs and Taylor 1996
+
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus eleutheraxon Seeley 1865 [synonym], Plesiosaurus etheridgei Huxley 1858 [synonym], Plesiosaurus etheridgii Huxley 1858 [synonym]
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus hexatarsostinus Hawkins 1840 [nomen oblitum], Plesiosaurus pentetarsostinus Hawkins 1834 [nomen oblitum], Plesiosaurus triatarsostinus Hawkins 1834 [nomen oblitum]
Unr. †Thalassophonea Benson and Druckenmiller 2014
+
Subfm. †Brachaucheninae Williston 1925
+
G. †Brachauchenius Williston 1903
G. †Discosaurus Leidy 1851
G. †Kronosaurus Longman 1924
G. †Luskhan Fischer et al. 2017
G. †Megacephalosaurus Schumacher et al. 2013
G. †Sachicasaurus Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2018
G. †Gallardosaurus Gasparini 2009
+
†Gallardosaurus iturraldei Gasparini 2009
G. †Liopleurodon Sauvage 1873
+
†Liopleurodon ferox Sauvage 1873
+
Invalid names: Thaumatosaurus mosquensis Kiprijanoff 1883 [synonym]
†Liopleurodon pachydeirus Seeley 1869
G. †Makhaira Fischer et al. 2015
+
†Makhaira rossica Fischer et al. 2015
G. †Peloneustes Lydekker 1889
+
†Peloneustes philarchus Seeley 1869
G. †Pliosaurus Owen 1841
+
†Pleiosaurus macromerus Phillips 1871
†Pliosaurus almanzaensis O’Gorman et al. 2018
†Pliosaurus andrewsi Tarlo 1960
+
Invalid names: Peloneustes sterrodeirus Seeley 1869 [synonym]
†Pliosaurus carpenteri Benson et al. 2013
†Pliosaurus funkei Knutsen et al. 2012
†Pliosaurus gamma Phillips 1871
†Pliosaurus grandis Owen 1840
†Pliosaurus grossouvrei Sauvage 1873
†Pliosaurus kevani Benson et al. 2013
†Pliosaurus patagonicus Gasparini and O'Gorman 2014
†Pliosaurus rossicus Novozhilov 1948
†Pliosaurus westburyensis Benson et al. 2013
Invalid names: Cetiosaurus rigauxi Sauvage 1874 [nomen dubium], Ischyrodon Merian 1838 [synonym], Plesiosaurus giganteus Conybeare 1824 [nomen oblitum], Pliosaurus irgisensis Novozhilov 1948 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus portentificus Noè et al. 2004 [nomen dubium], Spondylosaurus Fischer 1845 [synonym], Stretosaurus Tarlo 1959 [synonym]
G. †Simolestes Andrews 1909
+
†Simolestes indicus Lydekker 1877
†Simolestes keileni Godefroit 1994
†Simolestes vorax Andrews 1909
+
Invalid names: Thaumatosaurus calloviensis Bogolubov 1912 [synonym]
Invalid names: Pliosaurus brachyspondylus Owen 1840 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus macromerus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Pliosaurus aequalis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus evansi Seeley 1869 [nomen dubium], Simolestinae Nopcsa 1923 [empty]
Invalid names: Brachydeira Seeley 1892 [synonym], Trinacromeridae Nopcsa 1923 [empty]
G. †Rhaeticosaurus Wintrich et al. 2017
+
†Rhaeticosaurus mertensi Wintrich et al. 2017
Fm. †Rhomaleosauridae Nopcsa 1928
+
G. †Anningasaura Vincent and Benson 2012
+
†Anningasaura lymense Vincent and Benson 2012
G. †Archaeonectrus Novozhilov 1964
G. †Atychodracon Smith 2015
G. †Avalonnectes Benson et al. 2012
+
†Avalonnectes arturi Benson et al. 2012
G. †Bishanopliosaurus Dong 1980
+
†Bishanopliosaurus zigongensis Gao et al. 2004
G. †Borealonectes Sato and Wu 2008
+
†Borealonectes russelli Sato and Wu 2008
G. †Eurycleidus Andrews 1922
+
†Eurycleidus arcuatus Owen 1840
G. †Macroplata Swinton 1930
+
†Macroplata tenuiceps Swinton 1930
G. †Maresaurus Gasparini 1997
+
†Maresaurus coccai Gasparini 1997
G. †Meyerasaurus Smith and Vincent 2010
+
†Meyerasaurus victor Fraas 1910
G. †Rhomaleosaurus Seeley 1874
+
†Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni Carte and Baily 1863
†Rhomaleosaurus megacephalus Stutchbury 1846
†Rhomaleosaurus zetlandicus Phillips 1854
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus propinquus Tate and Blake 1876 [synonym], Rhomaleosaurus thorntoni Andrews 1922 [synonym]
G. †Thaumatodracon Smith and Araújo 2017
+
†Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi Smith and Araújo 2017
G. †Yuzhoupliosaurus Zhang 1985
+
Invalid names: Thaumatosauridae Romer 1956 [synonym]
G. †Stratesaurus Benson et al. 2012
+
†Stratesaurus taylori Benson et al. 2012
G. †Sulmosaurus Huene 1952
G. †Taphrosaurus Cope 1870
G. †Uronautes Cope 1876
G. †Zahrisaurus Malkani 2019
+
†Zahrisaurus kilmoolai Malkani 2019
Invalid names: Aptychodon cretaceus Reuss 1855 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus lissaensis Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus teplicensis Fritsch 1907 [nomen vanum], Cimoliosaurus nazarowi Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Cimoliosaurus smithi Owen 1884 [nomen vanum], Discosaurus planior Leidy 1870 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus intermedius Cope 1894 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus orientalis Cope 1869 [nomen vanum], Embaphias circulosus Cope 1894 [nomen vanum], Hunosaurus fasseli Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Iserosaurus littoralis Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Lutkesaurus Kiprijanoff 1883 [nomen nudum], Mauisaurus brachiolatus Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Neoplesiosauria Ketchum and Benson 2010 [empty], Oligosimus grandaevus Leidy 1872 [nomen vanum], Orophosaurus pauciporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Peloneustes kanzleri Koken 1905 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus hexagonus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus megaloporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus microporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piratosaurus plicatus Leidy 1865 [nomen dubium], Plesiosauriformes Hay 1930 [empty], Plesiosaurus affinis Owen 1840 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus australis Owen 1861 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus balticus Schröder 1885 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus bernardi Owen 1850 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus brachistospondylus Hulke 1870 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus brevifemur Cope 1875 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus brevis Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus continuus Owen 1841 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus cycnodeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus degenhardti Koken 1887 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus ellipsospondylus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus euryspondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus gouldii Williston 1897 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus hexagonalis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus infraplanus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus latispinus Owen 1854 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus levis Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus lockwoodii Cope 1869 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus megapleuron Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus microdeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus mudgei Cragin 1894 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus neocomiensis Campiche 1860 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus nordmanni Eichwald 1869 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus ophiodeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen 1840 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus phillipsi Sauvage 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus planispondylus Damon 1860 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus planus Owen 1864 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus planus trigonalis Owen 1864 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus platydeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus poecilospondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus shirleyensis Knight 1900 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus subdepressus Owen 1854 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus traversii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus truncatus Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus validus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus winspitensis Seeley 1871 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus planus Hulke 1883 [nomen nudum], Plistosauroidea Edinger 1935 [empty], Polycotylus donicus Pravoslavlev 1915 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus epigurgitis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus orientalis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus tenuis Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus ultimus Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polyptychodon Owen 1841 [nomen vanum], Polyptychodon neocomiensis Schardt 1910 [nomen vanum], Stereosaurus cratynotus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Stereosaurus platyomus Seeley 1869 [nomen vanum], Stereosaurus stenomus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Teleosaurus neogaeus Burmeister and Giebel 1861 [nomen dubium], Uronautes cetiformis Cope 1876 [nomen vanum], Xenopsaria Benson and Druckenmiller 2014 [empty]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. Perrier 1928Deux paires de membres à cinq doigts en forme de palettes, Cou très allongé; queue courte; os carré fermement fixé; dents nombreuses alvéolées; côtes articulées seulement au disque vertébral, qui est biconcave.
D. S. Brown 1981Sauropterygia in which the nasals are absent; paroccipital processes usually long and slender, meeting squamosal; post-temporal fenestrae large; stapes probably absent; thecodont, with new teeth developing lingual to old and moving buccally to replace them; overall length up to 14 meters; vertebral centra with paired nutritive foramina; coracoids, pubes and ischia developing into large ventral plates; epipodials becoming broader than long; hyperphalangy reaching a maximum of 17.
F. R. O'Keefe 2001"Maxilla/squamosal contact present; quadrate embayed anteriorly; parashenoid is exposed anterior to posterior interpterygoid vacuities on palate surface; cervical zygopophyses narrower than centrum width; dorsasl neural arches shorter than centrum height; zygosphene/zygantrum articulation absent; longitudinal pectoral bar present; lack of articulation between ilium and pubis; expanded distal propodials with dorsal trochanter/tuberosity; ulna distinctly lunate; shifted fifth metapodial present; hyperphalangy present."
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatiteo
Environment: marineo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquatico
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoreo
Reproduction: viviparouso
Comments: viviparous based on O'Keefe and Chiappe 2011o
Created: 2009-07-20 06:05:48
Modified: 2011-08-12 01:58:15
Source: o = order
Reference: Kiessling 2004

Age range: base of the Oretian to the top of the Late/Upper Maastrichtian or 227.50000 to 66.00000 Ma

Collections (844 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Norian228.0 - 208.5Russian Federation (Nenets) Alexeyisaurus karnoushenkoi (103802)
Oretian227.5 - 221.0New Zealand (North Island) Plesiosauria indet. (106319)
Sevatian212.0 - 205.6Switzerland (Basel-Landschaft) Plesiosauria indet. (47802)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3United Kingdom (England) Plesiosaurus costatus, Plesiosaurus trigonus (122362) Plesiosaurus dibothrius (57958) Plesiosaurus megacephalus (96612) Plesiosaurus rostratus (122365) Plesiosaurus sp. (96617 163310)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3Norway (Svalbard) Plesiosauria indet. (107002)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3France (Burgundy) Plesiosaurus costatus, Plesiosaurus bitractensis (144759) Plesiosaurus costatus, Plesiosaurus bitractensis, Plesiosauria indet. (144758)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3Germany (Sachsen-Anhalt) Plesiosaurus keuperinus (139489)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3France (Champagne-Ardennes) Plesiosaurus carinatus (139922)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3Belgium (Gaume) Plesiosaurus sp. (139199 139202)
Rhaetian208.5 - 201.3Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Plesiosauria indet. (91635) Plesiosaurus sp. (131422)

Youngest occurrences
Time interval Ma Country or state PBDB collection number
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Morocco Elasmosauridae indet. (99627 213665 213666) Elasmosauridae indet., Zarafasaura oceanis (116628) Plesiosaurus mauritanicus (143257 143258)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Argentina (Mendoza) Plesiosauria indet. (106075)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Argentina (Río Negro) Mauisaurus sp. (140998) Plesiosauria indet., Mauisaurus sp. (140997)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Argentina (Santa Cruz) Elasmosauridae indet. (140330 181059)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Chile (Biobio) Aristonectes sp. (150921)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Belgium (Liège) Elasmosauridae indet. (143253)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Jordan Polycotylidae indet. (170239)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Chile (Concepción) Aristonectes parvidens (118945)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Argentina (Chubut) Aristonectes parvidens (97872) Chubutinectes carmeloi (231295)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Chile (Puerto Natales) Aristonectes sp., Elasmosauridae indet. (208356) Aristonectinae indet. (208357 208358) Elasmosauridae indet. (140919)