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Key Information

Elasmosaurus

Species Elasmosaurus platyurus
Diet Carnivore
Weight Up to 2.3 tons
Timescale Late Cretaceous
Classification Chordata > Reptilia > Plesiosauria

Learning Point

  • Elasmosaurus is an interesting plesiosaur, belonging to a separate group of them with extremely long necks. The only fossil found includes the 72 vertebrae (neck bones) that make up the neck.

Project

  • Draw a picture of Elasmosaurus hunting for fish.
  • Overview
  • X-Ray
Elasmosaurus
Connor Ashbridge, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Elasmosaurus Skeleton
MCDinosaurhunter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Location

Confirmed North America, possibly Asia

Fun Facts

  • The name Elasmosaurus comes from Greek words meaning “thin-plate lizard“.
  • Only one fossil has been found of Elasmosaurus, as other fossils have been reindentified as belong to other species.
  • The neck was one of the longest necks found, with just one species having a longer neck.
  • No one fully understands why they had such long necks, and they were unlikely to have lifted them out of the water any distance.

Past Lessons

62 August 14, 2023 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

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