Megalonectes

Megalonectes was a genus of peioraid plesiosaur that lived roughly 95 million years ago during the Qalmanian period. There is one known species, M. gebelistanicus. Measuring at roughly 25 meters long, Megalonectes was one of the largest animals ever known, and was the largest carnivore of its time. Despite its size, very little is known about this massive marine reptile.
== Discovery and Naming ==
Originally found in the deserts of Theiónikos, in modern day Yimmu-Audal, the holotype specimen was dug up by locals. However, citizens of Aurora were also present for the discovery of the massive fossil. The original names of the discoverers have been lost to time; however, the Auroran delegate originally believed the bones to be that of a whale. The original discoverer, however, insisted that they belonged to a turtle. 
The bones were indeed that of an aquatic reptile, that much was evident. The fossil was taken to Fornost, where it was reconstructed as a massive turtle at the state museum. Many liberties were taken in reconstructing the bones with quartz plaster, considering that the bones consisted of mostly the anterior of the skull and the bones of the torso. An original description of the creature was penned in the intervening years, however the manuscript went unpublished and was lost to time. In the intervening years, the specimen was known as the Fornost Turtle.
In 937 ACA, however, a university visit by Dr. Tara Sauranis of the University of Lhûmar re-evaluated the specimen alongside local leader Robert Vorpes (Robot_Girlyman). She noticed a strong similarity with the bones of other peioraids like Aequor and Thalassophoneus in the remains of the Fornost specimen, and not at all with turtles. As such, the "turtle" was re-evaluated as a giant toothed marine reptile.
The full binomial name of the creature, Megalonectes gebelistanicus, means "large swimmer from Gebelistan" in Old Viodoxan.
== Description ==
Megalonectes was much like a typical peioraid, having a large head, short neck, four flippers, and a short tail. The length of its snout is not exactly known thanks to the poor preservation of the only skull, and reconstructions vary on how long it is; however, based on the proportions of other peioraids, Megalonectes was estimated to be 25 meters long. 
The ribs of Megalonectes are laterally flattened, similar to that of some leatherback turtles; this is likely one of the reasons for its original misidentification. This pseudo-shell formed by the ribs provided extra protection, but it is unknown what they were protected from. A possibility is that Megalonectes frequently engaged in intraspecific combat, ramming each others' bodies in territorial or mating disputes, as there were probably no other predators that could threaten it.
== Ecology ==
Megalonectes was the largest carnivorous organism to ever live as of 95 million years ago. As such, it probably preyed upon anything that it could fit into its jaws. Other plesiosaurs, turtles, basal thalassosaurs, ichthyosaurs, sharks, and bony fish were all possibly part of Megalonectes' diet.
Not much else is known about the ecology of Megalonectes, considering that only a single ex-situ specimen exists and the original digsite has been lost. The Gebel El-Salehif Formation, where the Fornost Specimen was originally found, is poorly explored, and the specific faunal assemblage of the formation is largely unknown.
Category:Fauna
Category:Extinct
Category:Animals
Category:Prehistory
Category:Marine reptiles
Category:Qalmanian
Category:Traveler's Era