| Plesiopharos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossils | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | †Sauropterygia |
| Order: | †Plesiosauria |
| Superfamily: | †Plesiosauroidea (?) |
| Genus: | †Plesiopharos Puértolas-Pascualet al., 2021 |
| Species: | †P. moelensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Plesiopharos moelensis Puértolas-Pascualet al., 2021 | |
Plesiopharos (derived from the Greek words πλησίος (plesios), "close" and φάρος (pharos), "lighthouse", because itsholotype was found in the vicinity of a lighthouse + [from São Pedro de] Moel) is an extinct genus ofplesiosaur from theEarly JurassicCoimbra Formation ofPortugal. Specifically, it was discovered in São Pedro de Moel, Marinha Grande, from which the type species' binomial name,Plesiopharos moelensis, derives from.
At the time of its publication (2021), this plesiosaur was the most complete and oldest known from theIberian Peninsula.[1]
The fossils were found by two collectors, António Silva (1999) and Vítor Teixeira (2012) who donated them to the Lourinhã Museum in 2017, and were completely prepared in the Dino Parque laboratory.[1]
ThePlesiopharos holotype (ML 2302) consists of parts of the fin of the arm (humerus and radius), of the right leg (femur), pelvic girdle (pubis, ilium and ischium) of the thorax (vertebrae, ribs and gastralia) and of the neck (cervical vertebra).[1] It would be an adult animal with an estimated size between 2.5 and 2.8 m.[citation needed]
Plesiopharos moelensis is classified as a basal member ofPlesiosauroidea.[1]
Plesiopharos moelensis was discovered at Praia da Concha, São Pedro de Moel, Marinha Grande, in layers that belong to theCoimbra Formation, which date to theSinemurian.[2][3]
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