Bishanopliosaurus

Bishanopliosaurus is one of the most complete plesiosaur fossils ever found in Asia from the Jurassic period.1

It had a short neck and a long body, with at least 17 neck bones, 19 back bones, 3 hip bones, and 26 tail bones.2

Its sacral ribs (ribs near the hips) were split into two branches, a unique feature that helps identify it.2

The type specimen was a young individual, so adults might have been larger than 4 metres long.1

Bishanopliosaurus lived in a subtropical freshwater lake, which is unusual because most plesiosaurs lived in the sea.1

Its name means 'Bishan lizard' after the county in China where it was found.5

Scientists are not sure exactly how old the rocks are that contained Bishanopliosaurus, so it could be from the Early or Middle Jurassic.1