Dekayia

Dekayia is a genus of extinct marine reptile belonging to the Mosasauridae family. Fossils of Dekayia, although fragmented and relatively rare, have been found in North America. Specifically, remains have been identified in the Late Cretaceous period, indicating an age of roughly 70 million years ago.

Dekayia is considered a somewhat enigmatic mosasaur due to the incomplete nature of the recovered fossil material. Its exact size, precise skull characteristics, and ecological niche are therefore subject to ongoing research and interpretation. While generally accepted as a valid mosasaur genus, its taxonomic position and relationship to other mosasaur genera have been debated.

The genus name Dekayia honors James Ellsworth De Kay, an American zoologist and geologist known for his contributions to the natural history of New York.

Further research and discovery of more complete skeletal remains are needed to fully understand the anatomy, evolutionary relationships, and paleobiology of Dekayia.