👉 Pleuronectes is a genus of extinct mammals that lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 68 to 79 million years ago. The genus was named after the Latin word "pleura," which means "breath," referring to the respiratory system of these animals. Pleuronectes are thought to have been small and nocturnal creatures, living mainly in the forests and lakes of Europe during the Cretaceous period. They were a common sight in the wild and