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'''Plesiosaurs''' are large [[reptiles]] characterized by long necks with small heads; stocky, finless tails; and a broad, turtle-like body with four flippered appendages. Using design inference based on their morphology, paleontologists believe that they were sea-dwelling carnivores that dined on fish and shellfish.

'''Plesiosaurs''' are large [[reptiles]] characterized by long necks with small heads; stocky, finless tails; and a broad, turtle-like body with four flippered appendages. Based on their morphological design and fossilized feces<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4341204.stm "Plesiosaur bottom-feeding shown"], BBC</ref>, paleontologists infer that they were sea-dwelling carnivores that dined on fish and shellfish.

[[Image:plesiosaur_owen.png|none|Plesiosaur skeleton from ''Palaeontology'', Richard Owen, 1861, p. 247.]]

[[Image:plesiosaur_owen.png|none|Plesiosaur skeleton from ''Palaeontology'', Richard Owen, 1861, p. 247.]]

The name ''plesiosaur'' (or ''plesiosaurus'') comes from the [[Greek]] for "near to lizard", and was named by [[William Conybeare]] to signify that it was more lizard-like than the fish-like [[ichthyosaurus]], which was first found only a few years previously nearby.

The name ''plesiosaur'' (or ''plesiosaurus'') comes from the [[Greek]] for "near to lizard", and was named by [[William Conybeare]] to signify that it was more lizard-like than the fish-like [[ichthyosaurus]], which was first found only a few years previously nearby.

According to [[evolution | evolutionary]] scientists, who use relative dating methods that rely on the [[strata]] fossils are found in, plesiosaurs lived in the [[Jurassic period]] and are now extinct. According to [[creation]] scientists, who use the [[Bible]], plesiosaurs were created on the fifth day of the [[Creation Week]]<ref>''Genesis'' 1:20-23</ref> and lived concurrently with Man. It is also widely held among creation researchers that the [[leviathan]] mentioned in the Bible<ref>''Job'' 3:8, 41:1; ''Psalm'' 74:14, 104:26; ''Isaiah'' 27:1</ref> was a plesiosaur.

According to [[evolution | evolutionary]] scientists, who use relative dating methods that rely on the [[strata]] fossils are found in, plesiosaurs lived in the [[Jurassic period]] and are now extinct. According to [[creation]] scientists, who use the [[Bible]], plesiosaurs were created on the fifth day of the [[Creation Week]]<ref name="tj12.3">[http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v12/i3/plesiosaurs.asp "Live plesiosaurs: weighing the evidence"], ''TJ'' 12(3):339–346, Dec. 1998</ref> and lived concurrently with Man. It is also widely held among creation researchers that the [[leviathan]] mentioned in the Bible<ref>''Job'' 3:8, 41:1; ''Psalm'' 74:14, 104:26; ''Isaiah'' 27:1</ref> was a type of plesiosaur, specifically the ''kronosaurus''<ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/dinosaurs/j-site4.html "The Great Dinosaur Mystery], Christian Answers</ref>.

Like other aquatic animals, according to the Bible plesiosaurs were not taken aboard the [[Noah's Ark | Ark]] during the [[Great Flood]]<ref>''Genesis'' 6:20</ref>. Because of this, some creation researchers believe that not all of them perished in the Flood and that populations survive to this day<ref name="tj12.3">[http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v12/i3/plesiosaurs.asp "Live plesiosaurs: weighing the evidence"], ''TJ'' 12(3):339–346, Dec. 1998</ref>, hidden beneath the icy waters of seas and deep lakes. The most often cited evidences for this theory are the many modern sightings around the globe of creatures that fit the description of a plesiosaur, the most famous of which have been reported at [[Loch Ness]], [[Scotland]] (the so-called "Loch Ness Monster" or "Nessie") and [[Lake Okanagan]] in [[British Columbia]] (known as "Ogopogo").

Like other aquatic animals, according to the Bible plesiosaurs were not taken aboard the [[Noah's Ark | Ark]] during the [[Great Flood]]<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/AnswersBook/fish14.asp "How did freshwater and saltwater fish survive the Flood?"], Answers in Genesis</ref>. Because of this, some creation researchers believe that not all of them perished in the Flood and that populations survive to this day<ref name="tj12.3"/>, hidden beneath the icy waters of seas and deep lakes. The most often cited evidences for this theory are the many modern sightings around the globe of creatures that fit the description of a plesiosaur, the most famous of which have been reported at [[Loch Ness]], [[Scotland]] (the so-called "Loch Ness Monster" or "Nessie") and [[Lake Okanagan]] in [[British Columbia]] (known as "Ogopogo").

There was also a reputed plesiosaur carcass<ref name="tj12.3"/> dredged up by the Japanese fishing trawler ''Zuiyo Maru'' near [[New Zealand]] in 1977, but this find is very controversial as many researchers believe it was either a [[basking shark]] or a [[mosasaur]].

There was also a reputed plesiosaur carcass<ref name="tj12.3"/> dredged up by the Japanese fishing trawler ''Zuiyo Maru'' near [[New Zealand]] in 1977, but this find is very controversial as many researchers believe it was either a [[basking shark]] or a [[mosasaur]].