In 1970 fossils were reported from the lithographic limestones in a quarry near the village of Aiguines in the Canjuers plateau, France.

In 1974, Pleurosaurus ginsburgi was described based on MNHN 1983-4-CNJ 67, a mostly complete skeleton found at the Aiguines quarry.

[1] Pleurosaurus is one of two unambiguous members of the family Pleurosauridae, alongside Palaeopleurosaurus from the Early Jurassic of Germany.

The elongated triangular skull was highly modified from those present in other rhynchocephalians.

[4] Pleurosaurus goldfussi and Pleurosaurus ginsburgi are distinguished by differing skull proportions, different numbers of presacral vertebrae (50 in P. goldfussi vs 57 in P. ginsburgi), and considerably shorter forelimbs on P.