Maresaurus

Maresaurus lived during the Middle Jurassic period, about 170 to 168 million years ago.2

The only known fossil of Maresaurus is a partial skeleton that includes a skull, lower jaw, and some neck bones.3

Scientists think Maresaurus belonged to a group of plesiosaurs called rhomaleosaurids, which were short-necked predators.1

Maresaurus was named by paleontologist Zulma Gasparini in 1997.31

The type species is called Maresaurus coccai.1

Maresaurus fossils were found in the Los Molles Formation, which was once a shallow sea.31