PLESIOSAUROIDEA

Classification

Sauropterygia > Eosauropterygia > Eusauropterygia > Plesiosauria > Plesiosauroidea

Discussion

The superfamily Plesiosauroidea (often confusingly termed 'plesiosaurs') represents one of the two major divisions of the plesiosaurs, typically with long necks. The other major group (superfamily) of plesiosaurs is the Pliosauroidea (often just called pliosaurs). Within the Plesiosauroidea, there are a number of families including the long-necked Plesiosauridae, Cryptoclididae, Elasmosauridae and Cimoliasuridae, and a family with secondarily derived short necks, Polycotylidae.