Latest news with #JournalofSystematicPaleontology
Epoch Times
24-05-2025
- Science
- Epoch Times
Fierce-Looking BC Fossil Confirmed as New Genus, Days After Death of Discoverer
Before British Columbia fossil hunter Mike Trask died last week, he knew that recognition of his biggest discovery would live on. Now it has been confirmed that the ferocious-looking marine reptile he found with his then 12-year-old daughter on Vancouver Island 37 years ago is a new species—and an entirely new genus. Trask died on May 15, eight days before the publication of the peer-reviewed findings in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology about Traskasaura sandrae, named in his honour. Heather Trask, who was with her father when they found the fossilized remains of the 12-metre long animal along the Puntledge River, died in 2023. 'That's his and his daughter's legacy,' said Mike Trask's twin brother, Pat Trask, curator of natural history at the Courtenay Museum and Palaeontology Centre on Vancouver Island, where the fossil and another example of the species are on display. His voice cracked as he noted: 'That's a big legacy. It's not his only attribute, but it's a good one.' Related Stories 3/26/2025 11/27/2024 The marine reptile was named British Columbia's official fossil emblem two years ago. It had previously identified as a type of elasmosaur, a group of plesiosaurs with extremely long necks. In the findings published Friday, researchers now describe the fossils that date back about 85 million years as the remains of 'a very odd new genus' of the plesiosaur family. 'Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia,' said F. Robin O'Keefe, lead author of the research report and a professor at Marshall University in West Virginia. '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 published today finally solves this mystery,' O'Keefe said in a news release ahead of the study's publication. Pat Trask said the fossils discovered by his brother sat on the ancient sea floor before being buried by sediment, and the amount of corrosion in the fossilization process meant experts had trouble confirming it was a unique genus, different from other elasmosaurs. He said his own 2020 discovery of a better preserved fossil of the same type of animal—also in the Courtenay-Comox area of Vancouver Island—helped researchers definitively confirm the new genus, now known as Traskasaura. Pat Trask said his brother always believed they had found a new type of the animal. 'We knew it was new, all that time,' Trask said. 'It's just the fact that we had to get science to agree. And after that second discovery, we had two really good specimens to base the scientific evidence on.' The Traskasaura is believed to have lived along the coast of B.C. dating back to the Cretaceous period, and researchers say the animal had a number of unique features including 'heavy, sharp, robust teeth ideal for crushing.' The addition of the animal to the provincial symbols list in 2023 came after a five-year recognition effort by paleontology enthusiasts. It joined other official provincial emblems such as the Pacific dogwood, Stellar's jay and the western red cedar. Pat Trask said his brother had known that official identification of the Traskasaura was coming before he died. 'He had some issues with his brain function at the end of his life, from lack of oxygen,' Pat Trask said, describing how he showed his brother the announcement confirming the identification, just before his death. 'But he understood that it was happening, and he was very grateful for that. He was very smiley, very happy.'
Global News
23-05-2025
- Science
- Global News
Ferocious-looking B.C. marine reptile fossil confirmed as new genus
Before British Columbia fossil hunter Mike Trask died last week, he knew that recognition of his biggest discovery would live on. Now it has been confirmed that the ferocious-looking marine reptile he found with his then 12-year-old daughter on Vancouver Island 37 years ago is a new species — and an entirely new genus. Trask died on May 15, eight days before the publication of the peer-reviewed findings in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology about Traskasaura sandrae, named in his honour. Heather Trask, who was with her father when they found the fossilized remains of the 12-metre long animal along the Puntledge River, died in 2023. 'That's his and his daughter's legacy,' said Mike Trask's twin brother, Pat Trask, curator of natural history at the Courtenay Museum and Palaeontology Centre on Vancouver Island, where the fossil and another example of the species are on display. Story continues below advertisement His voice cracked as he noted: 'That's a big legacy. It's not his only attribute, but it's a good one.' The marine reptile was named British Columbia's official fossil emblem two years ago. It had previously identified as a type of elasmosaur, a group of plesiosaurs with extremely long necks. In the findings published Friday, researchers now describe the fossils that date back about 85 million years as the remains of 'a very odd new genus' of the plesiosaur family. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia,' said F. Robin O'Keefe, lead author of the research report and a professor at Marshall University in West Virginia. '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 published today finally solves this mystery,' O'Keefe said in a news release ahead of the study's publication. 2:17 Footprints from armoured dinosaurs with tail clubs found in B.C. and Alberta Pat Trask said the fossils discovered by his brother sat on the ancient sea floor before being buried by sediment, and the amount of corrosion in the fossilization process meant experts had trouble confirming it was a unique genus, different from other elasmosaurs. Story continues below advertisement He said his own 2020 discovery of a better preserved fossil of the same type of animal — also in the Courtenay-Comox area of Vancouver Island — helped researchers definitively confirm the new genus, now known as Traskasaura. Pat Trask said his brother always believed they had found a new type of the animal. 'We knew it was new, all that time,' Trask said. 'It's just the fact that we had to get science to agree. And after that second discovery, we had two really good specimens to base the scientific evidence on.' The Traskasaura is believed to have lived along the coast of B.C. dating back to the Cretaceous period, and researchers say the animal had a number of unique features including 'heavy, sharp, robust teeth ideal for crushing.' The addition of the animal to the provincial symbols list in 2023 came after a five-year recognition effort by paleontology enthusiasts. It joined other official provincial emblems such as the Pacific dogwood, Stellar's jay and the western red cedar. 1:11 Researchers make dinosaur fossil discovery in northern B.C. Pat Trask said his brother had known that official identification of the Traskasaura was coming before he died. Story continues below advertisement 'He had some issues with his brain function at the end of his life, from lack of oxygen,' Pat Trask said, describing how he showed his brother the announcement confirming the identification, just before his death. 'But he understood that it was happening, and he was very grateful for that. He was very smiley, very happy.'
Vancouver Sun
23-05-2025
- Science
- Vancouver Sun
Fierce-looking B.C. fossil confirmed as new genus, days after death of discoverer
Before British Columbia fossil hunter Mike Trask died last week, he knew that recognition of his biggest discovery would live on. Now it has been confirmed that the ferocious-looking marine reptile he found with his then 12-year-old daughter on Vancouver Island 37 years ago is a new species — and an entirely new genus. Trask died on May 15, eight days before the publication of the peer-reviewed findings in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology about Traskasaura sandrae, named in his honour. He was 69. Heather Trask, who was with her father when they found the fossilized remains of the 12-metre long animal along the Puntledge River, died in 2023. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'That's his and his daughter's legacy,' said Mike Trask's twin brother, Pat Trask, curator of natural history at the Courtenay Museum and Palaeontology Centre on Vancouver Island, where the fossil and another example of the species are on display. His voice cracked as he noted: 'That's a big legacy. It's not his only attribute, but it's a good one.' The marine reptile was named British Columbia's official fossil emblem two years ago. It had previously identified as a type of elasmosaur, a group of plesiosaurs with extremely long necks. In the findings published Friday, researchers now describe the fossils that date back about 85 million years as the remains of 'a very odd new genus' of the plesiosaur family. 'Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia,' said F. Robin O'Keefe, lead author of the research report and a professor at Marshall University in West Virginia. 'However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared B.C.'s provincial fossil in 2023. Our new research published today finally solves this mystery,' O'Keefe said in a news release ahead of the study's publication. Pat Trask said the fossils discovered by his brother sat on the ancient sea floor before being buried by sediment, and the amount of corrosion in the fossilization process meant experts had trouble confirming it was a unique genus, different from other elasmosaurs. He said his own 2020 discovery of a better preserved fossil of the same type of animal — also in the Courtenay-Comox area of Vancouver Island — helped researchers definitively confirm the new genus, now known as Traskasaura. Pat Trask said his brother always believed they had found a new type of the animal. 'We knew it was new, all that time,' Trask said. 'It's just the fact that we had to get science to agree. And after that second discovery, we had two really good specimens to base the scientific evidence on.' The Traskasaura is believed to have lived along the coast of B.C. dating back to the Cretaceous period, and researchers say the animal had a number of unique features including 'heavy, sharp, robust teeth ideal for crushing.' The addition of the animal to the provincial symbols list in 2023 came after a five-year recognition effort by paleontology enthusiasts. It joined other official provincial emblems such as the Pacific dogwood, Steller's jay and the western red cedar. Pat Trask said his brother had known that official identification of the Traskasaura was coming before he died. 'He had some issues with his brain function at the end of his life, from lack of oxygen,' Pat Trask said, describing how he showed his brother the announcement confirming the identification, just before his death. 'But he understood that it was happening, and he was very grateful for that. He was very smiley, very happy.'
National Observer
23-05-2025
- Science
- National Observer
Fierce-looking BC fossil confirmed as new genus, days after death of the discoverer
Before British Columbia fossil hunter Mike Trask died last week, he knew that recognition of his biggest discovery would live on. Now it has been confirmed that the ferocious-looking marine reptile he found with his then 12-year-old daughter on Vancouver Island 37 years ago is a new species — and an entirely new genus. Trask died on May 15, eight days before the publication of the peer-reviewed findings in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology about Traskasaura sandrae, named in his honour. Heather Trask, who was with her father when they found the fossilized remains of the 12-metre long animal along the Puntledge River, died in 2023. "That's his and his daughter's legacy," said Mike Trask's twin brother, Pat Trask, curator of natural history at the Courtenay Museum and Palaeontology Centre on Vancouver Island, where the fossil and another example of the species are on display. His voice cracked as he noted: "That's a big legacy. It's not his only attribute, but it's a good one." The marine reptile was named British Columbia's official fossil emblem two years ago. It had previously identified as a type of elasmosaur, a group of plesiosaurs with extremely long necks. In the findings published Friday, researchers now describe the fossils that date back about 85 million years as the remains of "a very odd new genus" of the plesiosaur family. 'Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia,' said F. Robin O'Keefe, lead author of the research report and a professor at Marshall University in West Virginia. '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 published today finally solves this mystery," O'Keefe said in a news release ahead of the study's publication. Pat Trask said the fossils discovered by his brother sat on the ancient sea floor before being buried by sediment, and the amount of corrosion in the fossilization process meant experts had trouble confirming it was a unique genus, different from other elasmosaurs. He said his own 2020 discovery of a better preserved fossil of the same type of animal — also in the Courtenay-Comox area of Vancouver Island — helped researchers definitively confirm the new genus, now known as Traskasaura. Pat Trask said his brother always believed they had found a new type of the animal. "We knew it was new, all that time," Trask said. "It's just the fact that we had to get science to agree. And after that second discovery, we had two really good specimens to base the scientific evidence on." The Traskasaura is believed to have lived along the coast of BC dating back to the Cretaceous period, and researchers say the animal had a number of unique features including "heavy, sharp, robust teeth ideal for crushing." The addition of the animal to the provincial symbols list in 2023 came after a five-year recognition effort by paleontology enthusiasts. It joined other official provincial emblems such as the Pacific dogwood, Stellar's jay and the western red cedar. Pat Trask said his brother had known that official identification of the Traskasaura was coming before he died. "He had some issues with his brain function at the end of his life, from lack of oxygen," Pat Trask said, describing how he showed his brother the announcement confirming the identification, just before his death. "But he understood that it was happening, and he was very grateful for that. He was very smiley, very happy." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Vancouver Island fossil hunters honoured in naming of prehistoric sea monster
A fossil-hunting father-daughter team from Vancouver Island has been recognized in the naming of a new genus of giant prehistoric sea lizard found near Courtenay almost 40 years ago. Michael and Heather Trask were the first to find remains of an elasmosaur west of the Canadian Rockies when they discovered the fossils along the Puntledge River in 1988. Viewed as "odd" by experts for years, those specimens have recently been deemed unique to the Pacific Northwest, both older and unlike any other species of elasmosaur fossils found elsewhere in the world. Hence, the new name Traskasaura, announced Friday in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology, combining the families' surname and "saura," which is Greek for lizard. "It's a great name and my family is really, really loving it," said Pat Trask, brother to Michael, uncle to Heather, and himself no stranger to the wonders of fossils as the curator of natural history at the Courtenay Museum and Palaeontology Centre. "They discovered the elasmosaur just looking for fossils, kind of a chance find," he said. "They knew there were fossils out there, but they didn't expect to find a sea monster, that's for sure." With a giant jaw full of pointy teeth, snake-like neck and proportionately tiny turtle-shaped body, Traskasaura serves as an 85-million-year-old reminder of animals that once slithered through what is now the Salish Sea when the earth was covered by ocean. Making it a full-on family affair are the juvenile Traskasaura fossils, discovered by Pat in the Comox Valley five years ago. With two specimens to study, it wasn't long before experts realized they were indeed looking at something new to science and the elasmosaur family. "The fossil record is full of surprises," said lead study author Prof. F. Robin O'Keefe of Marshall University in West Virginia. "It is always gratifying to discover something unexpected." Under its previous name, B.C. named Traskasaura the province'sofficial fossil emblem in 2023 after holding a public vote, putting it up there with the Pacific dogwood and salmon, Western red cedar and spirit bear as important cultural symbols. The unveiling of the new name, however, is tinged with sadness. On May 15, Michael passed away after a long illness. He is predeceased by Heather, who died a few years earlier. "I got the press release a while ago, and I actually framed it, and I took it to my brother while he was still cognizant so that he would understand that it was done," said Pat. "It's beautiful that he knew." Michael's celebration of life is June 1 at the Courtenay Museum and Paleaontology Centre, fittingly in the shadow of the life-size Traskasaura skeleton replica. "It's a wonderful legacy for him and his daughter. It's a legacy for my family. And it's a legacy for our community," said Pat.
