Scientists have discovered in the department of Men and Loire in the west of France the remains of a unique marine reptile, reports the radio station France Info.
According to researchers, the reptile lived on Earth about 90 million years ago. According to the paleontologist Peggy Vinsan, until this moment the scientists "did not know anything or just disparate little details" about the group of plesiosaurs in Europe during this period.
Prior to this, remains of reptiles of this age were found only in North America and Africa.
Scientists suggest that the predator found migrated.
Previously, paleontologists claimed to have discovered the oldest known nervous system in ancient fossils, the age of which is 520 million years. Discovered in southern China, the remains belonged to representatives of the Cambrian period, which gave rise to arthropods, including insects, spiders and crustaceans.