Mystery behind terrifying 85million-year-old sea monster with giant teeth that ‘crushed' prey solved after decades
The creature, which loosely resembles the infamous Loch Ness monster, measures 12 metres and has large, heavy teeth.
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The bizarre elasmosaurus is actually one of North America's most famous fossils, becoming the official fossil emblem of British Columbia in 2023
Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre
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Three specimens, all roughly 85-million-years old, were found along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988
Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre
These robust gnashers were ideal for crushing and feasting on ammonites - coiled-shelled cephalopods, according to researchers.
The bizarre elasmosaurus is actually one of North America's most famous fossils, becoming the official fossil emblem of British Columbia, Canada in 2023.
Three specimens, all roughly 85-million-years old, were found along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988.
Except one had a strange mix of primitive and derived traits unlike any other elasmosaurus, according to a new study,
published in the
READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY
The fossils were first described in a 2002 study, when experts were reluctant to create a new genus based solely on one adult elasmosaur fossil.
One fossil had a "fascinating and long list of autapomorphic characters" - suggesting it had strong capabilities for downward swimming, researchers wrote.
This set it apart from other plesiosaur - the umbrella species under which elasmosaurus fall.
However, a new "excellently preserved" partial skeleton enabled this latest international team of scientists to shed new light on the creature, and declare it a new species: the Traskasaura sandrae.
Most read in Science
"Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia," said lead author Professor F. Robin O'Keefe from Marshall University, in West Virginia, US.
Stomping 50ft 'Mongolian giant' created 'biggest two-legged dinosaur footprints' ever found – and it even dwarfed T-Rex
"However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared BC's provincial fossil in 2023. Our new research... finally solves this mystery.
"The scientific confusion concerning this taxon is understandable. It has a very odd mix of primitive and derived traits.
"The shoulder, in particular, is unlike any other plesiosaur I have ever seen, and I have seen a few."
Researchers named the new type of plesiosaur Traskasaura, in honor of Michael and Heather Trask, who discovered the original specimen in 1988, and the Greek word sauros, meaning lizard.
The species name sandrae was inspired by Sandra Lee O'Keefe (nee Markey) who was "a valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer." "In loving memory," the team of authors write.
"With the naming of Traskasaura sandrae, the Pacific Northwest finally has a Mesozoic reptile to call its own," Professor O'Keefe, an expert on marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, said.
"Fittingly, a region known for its rich marine life today was host to strange and wonderful marine reptiles in the Age of Dinosaurs."
He added: "The fossil record is full of surprises. It is always gratifying to discover something unexpected.
"When I first saw the fossils and realized they represented a new taxon, I thought it might be related to other plesiosaurs from the Antarctic.
"My Chilean colleague Rodrigo Otero thought differently, and he was right; Traskasaura is a strange, convergently evolved, fascinating beast."
The first of the elasmosaurus fossils are currently on public display at The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre in British Columbia.
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Researchers named the new type of plesiosaur Traskasaura sandrae
Credit: Robert O. Clark
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Mystery over 2,000-year-old shipwreck with ‘world's oldest computer' that inspired Indiana Jones as boat finally raised
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The newly recovered timbers do not match those found in the 1970s - they differ in both size and construction. This has led scientists to consider the possibility that the Antikythera site may actually contain the remains of two separate shipwrecks - not just one. Read more world news Lorenz Baumer of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, who directed this year's expedition, said: 'The measures are different. 'The thickness of the planks found by Cousteau is around 10 centimetres, the ones we have measure around five - that's quite a difference. 'Now we have to find an explanation – is it another part of the ship? It's possible that they've been using thinner planks in upper parts, but that's pure speculation for now. 'Or is it – and for me this could be a possibility – a skiff. Most read in The US Sun 'You see many of those merchant ships had smaller boats with them.' 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He said: 'It's very detailed and very precise, so this drawing has been done by somebody who knows ships and also the technical parts. 'You see on the back of the Europa is hanging a smaller second ship.' He also mentioned the Biblical tale - when Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked off Malta, a lifeboat was launched from the main vessel. 'We have two wreck sites,' he said. 'Close to 200 meters southwards there is a huge field – it is all covered with amphorae. 'Chronologically the two sites go together so maybe these ships have been sailing together.' He added: 'We cannot tell if they sank one after the other, or if there was a couple of years, weeks, or days between them. 'But we see we are in about the same period.' The newly-recovered timbers have also revealed that the Antikythera wreck was already old when it sank. Analysis of the wood, which is elm and oak, dates it back to around 235 BC, whereas the ship didn't sink until around 80 BC. This year's expedition also uncovered a fragment of a sculpture depicting a nude male. Some believe the ship was doomed by the weight of the sculptures it carried. Dr Baumer said: 'It sunk very, very quickly because it was, in my opinion , totally overloaded. 'Whenever there's a storm in Antikythera, you're happy that you're not on board a ship, even a modern one. 'It is a very rocky coast, it's impossible to land, and you simply get broken up. There's no chance. 'Even now when the waves are too heavy, the ferry boats do not land on Antikythera – it's too dangerous.' What is the Antikythera Mechanism? The Antikythera Mechanism is a 2,000-year-old Greek device, often called the world's first analogue computer. Discovered in a shipwreck in 1901, the object is thought to have been used to predict astronomical events, like eclipses, moon phases and possibly the movements of planets. It consists of at least 29 gears of various sizes that were made to move simultaneously via a handle. 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Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Rare T-rex blood vessels found in fossil show how dinosaurs healed injuries
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RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Dino-mite! Why Jurassic films keep roaring back
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