Aristonectidae
Classification
Sauropterygia--> Eosauropterygia--> Eusauropterygia--> Pistosauroidea--> Plesiosauria--> Plesiosauroidea--> Aristonectidae
The Aristonectidae. Characters:
- Ventral cheek margin weakly excavated
- Pterygoids on palate closed anteriorly (lacks anterior pterygoid vacuity)
- Platycoelus (flat articulation surfaces) to the vertebrae
- Greater than 40 cervical vertebrae
- cervical centrum length greater than height
- Anterior cervical vertebrae with lateral keel
