Nothosaurus was a marine reptile that lived during the Triassic period, around 240 to 210 million years ago. It had a slender, elongated body, measuring up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length, with a long neck and sharp teeth, well-adapted for catching fish and other small marine animals. Nothosaurus had limbs that were intermediate between land reptiles and fully aquatic creatures, with webbed toes, indicating that it likely spent time both in the water and on land. Its semi-aquatic lifestyle is thought to have resembled that of modern seals. Fossils of Nothosaurus have been found in Europe, North Africa, and China, providing important insights into the early evolution of marine reptiles.