Name: Maresaurus
Phonetic: Mare-sore-us.
Named By: Gasparini‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Sauropterygia,‭ ‬Plesiosauria,‭ ‬Rhomaleos
Species: M.‭ ‬coccai‭ (‬type‭)‬.
Diet: Piscivore/Carnivore.
Size: Uncertain.
Known locations: Argentina,‭ ‬Los Molles Formation.
Time period: Bajocian of the Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Complete skull and mandible‭ (‬lower jaw‭) ‬and some cervical‭ (‬neck‭) ‬vertebrae.

       Maresaurus is one of the rhomaleosaurid‭ ‬pliosaurs,‭ ‬a group‭ ‬that seem to be between the long necked plesiosaurs and short necked pliosaurs in form.‭ ‬Additionally the fact that Maresaurus comes from South America combined with the presence‭ ‬of Yuzhoupliosaurus in China,‭ ‬produces a picture of the rhomaleosaurid pliosaurs having a global distribution.‭ ‬Other and older members of the group such as Macroplata and Rhomaleosaurus are so far only known from Europe where the largest number and most complete remains are known.


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