A team of scientists has finally solved the mystery of a 12-m-long elasmosaur fossil discovered on Vancouver Island, Canada in 1988. The species, named Traskasaura sandrae, is unlike any other known elasmosaur due to its unique mix of primitive and derived traits.
The fossils, which include an isolated right humerus and a well-preserved juvenile skeleton, were first described in 2002 but did not receive widespread recognition until now. The species was declared as the official fossil emblem of British Columbia in 2023, after being adopted by the Province.
Lead author Professor F. Robin O’Keefe from Marshall University revealed that the identity of the animal had remained a mystery despite its provincial status. “Our new research finally solves this mystery,” he said. The team’s study published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology has shed light on Traskasaura sandrae’s morphology, behavior, and hunting style.
Traskasaura sandrae was an apex predator that used its long neck – comprising at least 50 bones – to hunt prey from above while swimming downwards. The species likely targeted abundant ammonites found in the region. “The combination of its unusual features relate to its hunting style,” Professor O’Keefe explained.
Source: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/traskasaura-sandrae-13933.html