Libonectes

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Libonectes Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Libonectes morgani from the Late Cretaceous of Texas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Plesiosauria Suborder: Plesiosauroidea Family: Elasmosauridae Genus: Libonectes

Libonectes is an extinct genus of sauropterygian reptile belonging to the plesiosaur order.

The 7-14 m (23-47 ft) long creature was very similar to the related Elasmosaurus. It had a compact body with a short tail and large flippers. Its small skull had long, forward-facing teeth ideal for catching slippery fish and squid that came together outside of its mouth when the mouth was closed, and was placed atop a very long neck.

Libonectes had four strong, muscular flippers for swimming quickly through water as it kept its body stable by swallowing rocks. Scientists once believed that libonectes fed by raising its neck and head high above the surface of the water, then swiftly bringing it down on its prey to stun them. However, scientists found that the base of the neck was too stiff for libonectes to use its neck this way (the neck only moves easily from side to side), and it is now believed that it probably chased groups of fish underwater and snapped its head side to side to get as many in its mouth as it could.