Plesiosaurs related more to turtles or whales?

Question

I read an article a while back that scientists say plesiosaurs are not related to land dinosaurs and that they are more related to either turtles or whales but I forgot which one it was... someone know?

Answer 1

Plesiosaurs were marine reptiles, but they weren't really closely related to turtles or dinosaurs.

Phylogenetically, they would be closer to turtles than to whales, but that's not saying much. It's kind of like saying we're closer to kangaroos than to sparrows.

Many articles, however, do compare plesiosaurs to turtles because they share some superficial characteristics. Most plesiosaurs had fairly extensive body armour under their skin. Their skeleton included a variety of plates, scutes and broad sheets of bone to protect their internal organs - making them somewhat like turtles in that regard (although their armour wasn't as developed as turtles).

It is also speculated that plesiosaurs may have come up on land to lay their eggs, much as sea turtles continue to do today.

Answer 2

The answer would be turtles. They are both reptiles, meaning they share a much more recent common ancestor than Plesiosaurs and whales do.

Scientists may have said they were more LIKE whales. They sort of are. But they aren't anywhere nearly related.

Answer 3

Skeletally they were lizards.