Alexandronectes

Alexandronectes was a type of plesiosaur called an aristonectine, a group known for having unusually large skulls compared to other elasmosaurids.1

Its skull was smaller than those of other aristonectines like Kaiwhekea and Aristonectes, showing that not all members of this group were giants.1

The fossils of Alexandronectes were collected in 1872 by Alexander McKay, a famous New Zealand fossil hunter, but scientists did not name the animal until 2016.13

Its name means 'Alexander's swimmer from Zealandia', referring to the ancient continent that New Zealand is part of.1

Alexandronectes lived about 70 million years ago, during the early Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous.13

The only known fossils are two pieces of the back of the skull, which were originally thought to belong to two different animals.1