Macroplata

Macroplata is an extinct genus of Early Jurassic rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur. Like other plesiosaurs, Macroplata probably lived on a diet of fish, using its sharp needle-like teeth to catch prey. Its shoulder bones were fairly large, indicating a powerful forward stroke for fast swimming. Macroplata also had a relatively long neck, twice the length of the skull, in contrast to pliosaurs. It is known from a nearly complete skeleton NHMUK PV R 5488 from the Blue Lias Formation (Hettangian) of Harbury, Warwickshire, UK.