Leptocleidus fossil map
Where fossils of Leptocleidus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 130 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 130 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Plesiosaurs & kin |
|---|---|
| Lived | 143.1–100.5 million years ago (Berriasian to Albian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Leptocleididae |
| Named by | Andrews 1922 |
| Fossil records | 7 occurrences at 6 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa |
| Rock formations | Murderong Shale, txn:174765, Bulldog Shale, Weald Clay, Sundays River |
About Leptocleidus
Leptocleidus is an extinct genus of plesiosaur belonging to the family Leptocleididae. It was comparatively small in size, measuring only up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in length.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Leptocleidus (revision 1378534895), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q41154953.
