A mystery that kept paleontologists and enthusiasts suspended with suspended breath for decades has finally been resolved. The fossils discovered in 1988 along the Puntoledge river, on the island of Vancouver, belong to a new kind of elasmosaura prehistoric marine reptile with very long neck and powerful teeth. His name is Traskasaura Sandraeand was officially presented on the pages of Journal of Systematic Paleontology. Not only a scientific discovery, but a true symbol of identity for the entire British Columbia, where the reptile was elected Official provincial fossil in 2023thanks also to an unprecedented popular mobilization.
Traskasaura Sandrae, the predator of the Cretaceous who hunted from above
Traskasaura Sandrae It is not an elasmosaur like the others. The researchers, coordinated by the paleontologist F. Robin O’Keefe of Marshall University, described a combination of primitive sections and advanced evolutionary traits absolutely unpublished. In particular, the shoulder structure – completely different from any other known plesiosaur – has attracted the attention of scientists.
With a long body up to 12 meters And At least 36 cervical vertebraethis reptile had a neck that probably exceeded the 50 bone segments. A morphology that, combined with Robust and pointed teethit suggests a specialization in hunting to admonished, the molluscs with abundant hard shell in that area of the northern Pacific in the late Cretaceous.
The most fascinating peculiarity? According to the authors of the study, Traskasaura was probably one of the first Plesosauri capable of hob from aboveimmersing himself quickly to the bottom to surprise prey. A new evolutionary behavior for these animals, made possible by an anatomy designed for swimming downwards.
From the discovery in 1988 to the official fossil proclamation
The story of Traskasaura Sandrae he started in 1988, when Michael and Heather Trasktwo citizens of Courtenay, find the first fossil along the banks of the Puntledge river. That partial adult skeleton – to which over the years have added an isolated humerus and a well -preserved youth skeleton – remained for a long time without a real classification. His unusual morphology had in fact discouraged scholars from creating a new genre on the basis of a few elements.
Everything changes with the discovery, which took place in 2020, of a partial skeleton in excellent state of conservation. This allowed an international paleontologists team from Canada, Chile and the United States to precisely reconstruct the anatomy of the reptile, confirming its uniqueness.
The name of the genre, Traskasaurais a tribute to the transk spouses and at the Greek term Sauroswhich means “lizard”. The name of the species, Sandraeinstead is dedicated to Sandra Lee O’Keefewife of the paleontologist F. Robin O’Keefe, who disappeared after a long battle against breast cancer. A personal and touching tribute, which unites science with emotional memory.
In 2023, after a long five -year awareness campaign and a popular survey launched in 2018 – in which he received well 48% of the votes – Traskasaura Sandrae has been officially proclaimed fossil emblem of British Columbia. Today it is visible to everyone at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centerwhere the community continues to contribute to paleontological research with enthusiasm, as O’Keefe said:
When I saw those fossils for the first time, I realized that they did not belong to any known species. Traskasaura is a strange, fascinating animal, evolved independently, and which now proudly represents our region.
A discovery that not only enriches the knowledge of the navy evolution of the Cretaceous, but also shows how the collaboration between citizens, institutions and science can lead to extraordinary results.
