Leivanectes

Leivanectes is a genus of plesiosaurs of the family Elasmosauridae known from Late Aptian marine deposits in central Colombia. It contains a single species, L. bernadoi, which was described in 2019.

Description

Leivanectes differs from Callawayasaurus, which has been found in the same formation, in having fewer mandibular alveoli and a short mandibular symphysis with three alveoli.

Distribution

Leivanectes remains have been found in the fossiliferous Paja Formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, which crops out near Villa [de Leyva|Villa de Leyva, also written as Villa de Leiva], Boyaca, Colombia. The genus name refers to Villa de Leiva.