Plotosaurus

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Plotosaurus
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Mosasauridae
Genus: Plotosaurus

Plotosaurus is an extinct genus of lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. With a length of 10 m (33 ft), it was one of the bigger members.

Plotosaurus looked like a typical mosasaur- it had large, tooth-lined jaws, flipper-like limbs and a long, laterally flattened tail. An unusual trait was the large fin at the end of its tail; this is not seen in other mosasaurs. Skin impressions of Plotosaurus found in chalk indicated that it had scales.