A small team of archaeologists, geologists, paleontologists and climate scientists has found that at least one type of plesiosaur had scales on its flippers similar to modern sea turtle species.

These include many type and figured skeletons of plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs and marine crocodiles, including: The collection also contains other important marine reptile fossils from the Lower Lias of ...

These scales would have allowed the plesiosaur to stabilize and move efficiently on uneven underwater terrain, facilitating its search for food. This type of skin is a feature rarely found in fossils.