The topic of plesiosaurs sometimes extends outside of the realm of science and into popular culture. Plesiosaurs first entered the public consciousness as early as the 1850s when life-size models of prehistoric animals were erected at Crystal Palace. Plesiosaurs have had guest appearances in movies, TV shows, and other fiction – more than you might think. Plesiosaurs have also found their way into our toy shops; there are many plesiosaurian toys, figures, and other collectibles available.
Then there are reports of living monsters, like Nessie, which are inevitably allied with prehistoric reptiles such as plesiosaurs. The living plesiosaurus page provides a critical look at the existing evidence, while the sightings page presents some less well-known anecdotal evidence.