Legendary Sea Creature Officially Named

Quick Summary

• An 85-million-year-old marine reptile, previously described as “elasmosaurs,” has been classified under a new genus and species: Traskasaura sandrae.
• T. sandrae was nearly 40 feet long and had sharp teeth suitable for eating shelled ammonites. Its distinct traits included a downward-opening shoulder joint and uniquely curved flippers, enabling it to hunt from above in clear waters.
• Fossil evidence indicates T. sandrae was unlike other plesiosaurs, with features such as a very long neck resembling a fishing pole.
• The fossils were originally unearthed in 1988 from Vancouver Island, canada, declared British Columbia’s provincial fossil in 2023 after public polling.
• A new partial skeleton found in 2020 allowed scientists to define the species more precisely and officially name it.

Indian opinion Analysis
Discoveries like Traskasaura sandrae represent advancements crucial for understanding prehistoric biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems’ evolution during the Mesozoic Era-a period that shaped much of Earth’s biological complexity today. While this research directly pertains to Canada’s heritage (Vancouver Island fossils), it further highlights international collaboration involving researchers from countries like Chile and the United States-illustrating science’s borderless pursuit of knowledge.

For India, such findings enrich global perspectives on paleontology as the country seeks to develop its own scientific expertise in this field through efforts like fossil conservation projects across states including gujarat (housing Dinosaur Park). Learning from similar discoveries abroad strengthens India’s commitment toward protecting natural history relics integral to education about Earth’s past ecological transitions.

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