Plesiosaurs 101 | National Geographic

While dinosaurs roamed the Earth, marine reptiles in the order Plesiosauria swam in our planet's prehistoric oceans. Find out which creatures belonged in this group, how they grew to incredible sizes, and how they've captivated both scientists and storytellers alike.

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Get More National Geographic:

Plesiosaurs 101 | National Geographic

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

Plesiosaurs were massive animals which grew up to 43 feet long, with their most signature feature being their long necks. What intrigues you the most about these amazing creatures?

[Scrinwaipwr]

"They're not monsters, they're just animals." ~ Alan Grant in Jurassic Park

[stillafineline]

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the wonderful job done by the animators and video editors of the National Geographic channel.

[airport]

Imagine the nightmarish environment if humans lived at the same time as Plesiosaurs. And we think sharks are bad.

[Widdekuu]

Who else is equally terrified and fascinated by these?
I love them, but thinking about their large eyes and sharp teeth is terrifying. More than once they've haunted my dreams and yet they are so beautiful and mysterious, I love it.

[kell]

Pushing aside Loch Ness comments and thinking on a more realistic level, these were beautiful animals. I would’ve loved to have observed them if they still existed today, there’s something so attractive about their strange look. It’s surreal, but it’s also natural, and it makes this unbelievable Jurassic/Cretaceous ocean a true spectacle. They’re really gorgeous

[veecee]

I just love this National Geographic channel!

[blancoffee]

Legend says Jeremy wade caught em all with his bare hands

[wmarclocher]

My favorite as a child, and very hard to find a plastic toy replica at the time.

[Zayn]

Once had these animals in my dream as I was swimming in the ocean by a rocky cliff.

[spoopy_YT]

Bro they aren't Monsters they just eat meat cuz that's what they do

[kittencomicslol]

Plesiosaurs have always been my favorite sea creature. After all I found them from likening sharks to meglodons to elmasoars to plesiosaurs. It’s always been to interesting to there extreme resemblance to the lock mess monster(s). They always seem to come back to me, I don’t know why but they are just such intriguing creatures.

[MD-oxyb]

Knock it unconscious, tame it and put a saddle on it

[laguaridadelgremlin]

Those Plesiosaurs sound an awful lot like TIE fighters.

[AzlianaLyana]

Well, we are quite lucky that we do not have to co-exist with the Plesiosaurs. Would have been a bit tougher to fish with these giants roaming around in the sea. Thanks for sharing National Geographic.

[mohit]

2:51 me and my family members on a Sunday morning at 11:59 am.

[ariannasilva]

I wonder how they can tell the animals swam like that.

[accountnolongerinuse]

Didn't know plesiosaurus actually existed! When I was little I always used to draw them all the time. This is nice to know.

[rjwalker]

For some reason Plesiosaurs have always intrigued me more than any other dinosaur. Part of it was their long necks and small heads, (like a giraffe or snake) part was their flippers (like a seal) and part was that they had no gills, yet roamed the sea, (like a turtle).

[salsaboy]

Am I the only one who heard a TIE fighter at the start of the video?