Martinectes fossil map
Where fossils of Martinectes have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 75 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 75 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 | 83.6–72.2 million years ago (Campanian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Polycotylidae |
| Named by | Clark et al. 2024 |
| Fossil records | 3 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Pierre Shale, Taylor Marl |
About Martinectes
Martinectes is an extinct genus of polycotylid plesiosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian stage) of North America and possibly European Russia. The genus contains a single species M. bonneri, known from multiple skeletons and skulls. Martinectes was historically considered to represent a species of the genus Trinacromerum and later Dolichorhynchops before it was moved to its own genus. It was a large polycotylid measuring at least around 5 metres (16 ft) long.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Martinectes (revision 1348847969), 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: Q123991308.
