Zarafasaura oceanis Late Cretaceous (~70 million years ago) Phosphate Deposits Oulad Abdoun Basin, Morocco Tooth approx. size: 1.5" Matrix approx. size: 3" x 2.5" x 2.25" Plesiosaurs were marine reptiles that appeared in the Triassic and died out along with the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period. They had a broad flat body and a short tail. Their limbs were four powerful flippers that made a flying movement to propel the plesiosaur through the water. Plesiosaurs breathed air, and bore live young. There are indications that plesiosaurs were warm-blooded. There were two main morphological types of plesiosaurs. Those with the "plesiosauromorph" build had a long neck and a small head; these were relatively slow and caught small prey. Others with the "pliosauromorph" build had a short neck and a large head; these were fast hunters and caught large prey.
