"Discovery of a New Plesiosaur Species in the US"

Scientists have discovered a new genus and species of plesiosaur named Unktaheela specta, based on fossils found in Wyoming and South Dakota, which lived about 80.5 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous. This small polycotylid marine reptile, measuring between 7.5 to 8.5 feet in length, had a wide skull and unique paddles, with eye-shading features suggesting it was adapted for visual hunting in sunlit waters. The findings, which provide insights into the ecological niches of Cretaceous marine reptiles, were published in the journal Cretaceous Research.