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May 23 2025
2A decades-old fossil mystery has finally been solved, as paleontologists confirm that a collection of marine reptile remains from Vancouver Island belong to a previously unidentified genus and species. Officially named Traskasaura sandrae, this newly described elasmosaur stands out for its distinctive physical traits and potential hunting methods, making it one of the most unusual marine reptiles known from North America.
The fossilized remains, dating back approximately 85 million years to the Late Cretaceous period, were first unearthed in 1988 along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Since that initial discovery, two additional specimens have been found, including a juvenile skeleton with well-preserved thoracic and limb elements, as well as an isolated right humerus. All three were recovered from the Haslam Formation, a site now firmly associated with this enigmatic creature.
The new research, conducted by a team of scientists from Canada, Chile, and the United States, and published in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology, formally introduces Traskasaura sandrae as a new genus and species of elasmosaur. Distinguished by a peculiar combination of primitive and evolved features, this marine reptile defies straightforward classification within known plesiosaur lineages.
Measuring around 12 meters in length, Traskasaura possessed a notably long neck composed of at least 50 vertebrae and a set of heavy, pointed teeth—well-suited for crushing hard-shelled prey. These anatomical characteristics led researchers to hypothesize that the animal may have been adapted to a unique hunting strategy: diving down onto its prey from above, a behavior not commonly associated with plesiosaurs.
“This animal was clearly adapted for strong downward swimming,” said Professor O’Keefe, a marine reptile specialist involved in the study. “Its robust teeth and specialized morphology suggest it likely targeted ammonites, which were abundant in the region at the time.”
The genus name Traskasaura pays tribute to Michael and Heather Trask of Courtenay, BC, who discovered the original fossil in 1988. The suffix "sauros" comes from the Greek word for lizard. The species name sandrae honors Sandra Lee O’Keefe (née Markey), remembered by the research team for her courage in the fight against breast cancer, similar to the late Elizabeth Nicholls, one of the original scientists who studied the fossils in 2002.
That earlier study, while acknowledging the specimen’s unusual features, stopped short of assigning it to a new genus due to the lack of unambiguous skeletal traits. It wasn't until a more recently uncovered, exceptionally preserved skeleton came to light that researchers were able to confidently confirm its unique taxonomic status.
Reflecting on the significance of the discovery, Professor O’Keefe added, “The Pacific Northwest now has its very own Mesozoic marine reptile. This area, rich in marine biodiversity today, was clearly home to extraordinary sea creatures even during the age of dinosaurs.”
Although researchers briefly considered whether the three individuals might represent separate taxa, the consistent diagnostic traits observed across all specimens support the conclusion that they belong to the same species.
This long-overlooked marine predator now joins the paleontological record as a remarkable example of evolutionary divergence and ecological specialization during the age of dinosaurs.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-mystery-odd-elasmosaur-north-america.html
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