Plesiosaurus (P. dilichodeirus 'Almost a lizard') is an extinct genus of large marine sauropterygian reptile that lived about 200 million years ago in the early Jurassic period in the Sunnemurian and Toarcian epochs and became extinct about 65 million years ago along with the dinosaurs.
It is distinguished by its small head, long thin neck, broad turtle-like body, short tail, and two pairs of large elongated flippers.
The Plesiosaurus was a large and powerful animal, which could reach up to 12 meters in length, although most known specimens range between 3 and 5 meters in length. Its body was slender and its head small and triangular, with a large number of sharp, pointed teeth in its jaws. The shape of their neck and body suggest that they were very agile and fast swimmers.
The most characteristic of this animal were its four fins, which are believed to have been used to move quickly and agilely through the water. The front flippers were large and paddle-like, while the rear ones were smaller and paddle-like. Its neck was very long, which allowed it to turn its head and throat to capture its prey without having to move its entire body.
Plesiosaurus is known to have fed on a wide variety of animals, including fish, squid, crustaceans, and other marine reptiles. Due to their size and strength, they are believed to have been top predators in their ecosystem. Scientists also believe that they were able to regulate their body temperatures efficiently, allowing them to survive in cold waters.
The Model Pose represents a Plesiosaurus specimen swimming on the coral-covered seabed.
Approximate measurements of the Plesiosaurus:
- Scale 1:35 - 60 mm (Full Replica)
- Scale 1:20 - 106 mm (Full Replica)
- Scale 1:10 - 215 mm (Assembly Kit)
