Reptilia - Plesiosauria - Plesiosauridae
Synonyms: Brancasauridae White 1940, Muraenosauridae White 1940, Tremamesacleididae White 1940
Parent taxon: Plesiosauroidea according to L. Schwermann and P. M. Sander 2011
See also Bonaparte 1850, Brown 1981, Carpenter 1999, Carroll 1988, Cope 1871, Cope 1875, Delair 1960, Hay 1902, Hay 1930, Ketchum and Benson 2010, Ketchum and Benson 2011, Kuhn 1946, Kuhn 1966, Kuhn 1971, Lydekker 1889, Persson 1963, Stefano 1903, Welles 1943, Welles 1962, White 1940 and Zittel 1890
Sister taxa: Cimoliosaurus limnophilus, Cryptoclidia, Cryptoclididae, Elasmosauridae, Euplesiosauria, Franconiasaurus, Leptocleidia, Microcleididae, Opallionectes, Plesiopharos, Plesiopterys, Plesiosaurus, Polycotylidae, Sthenarosaurus, Westphaliasaurus
Subtaxa: Hydrorion Lusonectes Plesiosaurus neogaeus Thaumatosaurus
Type: Plesiosaurus
Ecology: aquatic carnivore
Distribution: