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Plesiosaurus
Meet plesiosaurus—one more extraordinary life to discover.
Discover the expedition atlasA reference overview
Plesiosaurus (Greek: πλησίος (plesios), near to + σαῦρος (sauros), lizard) is a genus of extinct, large marine sauropterygian reptile that lived during the Early Jurassic. It is known by nearly complete skeletons from the Lias of England. Measuring around 3.5 m (11 ft) long, it is distinguishable by its small head, long and slender neck, broad turtle-like body, a short tail, and two pairs of large, elongated paddles.
Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Plesiosaurus, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.