Peloneustes fossil map
Where fossils of Peloneustes have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 160 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 160 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 | 165.3–161.5 million years ago (Callovian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Family | Pliosauridae |
| Named by | Lydekker 1889 |
| Fossil records | 12 occurrences at 10 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United Kingdom, France, Germany |
| Rock formations | Oxford Clay, Ornatenton, Argiles de Montaubert |
About Peloneustes
Peloneustes (meaning 'mud swimmer') is a genus of pliosaurid plesiosaur from the Middle Jurassic of England. Its remains are known from the Peterborough Member of the Oxford Clay Formation, which is Callovian in age. It was originally described as a species of Plesiosaurus by palaeontologist Harry Govier Seeley in 1869, before being given its own genus by naturalist Richard Lydekker in 1889. While many species have been assigned to this genus, P. philarchus is currently the only one still considered valid, with the others moved to different genera, considered nomina dubia, or synonymised with P. philarchus. The taxon is known from many specimens, including some very complete material.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Peloneustes (revision 1370056588), 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: Q242046.
