Lusonectes fossil map
Where fossils of Lusonectes have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 175 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 175 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 | 184.2–174.7 million years ago (Toarcian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Family | Plesiosauridae |
| Named by | Smith et al. 2012 |
| Fossil records | 1 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Portugal |
| Rock formations | São Gião |
About Lusonectes
Lusonectes (meaning "Portuguese swimmer") is an extinct genus of Pliosauroid from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) São Gião Formation of Coimbra District, Portugal. It is known from a single partial skull and mandible. Originally described as a plesiosaurid, later studies have proposed affinities with microcleidids or early pliosaurids, though its exact position remains uncertain due to the fragmentary nature of the material.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Lusonectes (revision 1369767356), 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: Q3840891.
