Russia ? Paleontologists in Russia’s Volga area said Friday they have discovered the fossilized skeleton of a Jurassic-period fin lizard of the pliosaur family.

Geologist Vladimir Yefimov said scientists in the Ulyanovsk Region had so far discovered the reptile’s paw and needed funding to excavate the whole 120- million to 150 million-year-old skeleton. He said the specimen was the oldest reptile to be found in the region.

The Pliosaurs were crocodile-shaped carnivorous reptiles with short necks, long heads, and powerful jaws.