Fossil Plesiosaur Discovered in Antarctica
 Photo of the discovery site on a cold, rocky, windswept slope on Vega Island, Antarctica. Photo by James Martin, used with permission. |
Paleontologists from the United States and Argentina discovered one of the most complete plesiosaur skeletons ever found. (A plesiosaur is a swimming marine reptile that lived about 70 million years ago. At that time the waters of what is now Antarctica were much warmer than they are today.) The fossil plesiosaur was discovered during a 2005 expedition to Antarctica. The fossil goes on display today at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Museum of Geology.
This plesiosaur specimen is a juvenile of about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length. An adult plesiosaur is about 32 feet (10 meters). It was perfectly articulated and complete, except that the skull had been lost to erosion. The plesiosaur was excavated from deposits of shallow marine sands covered by volcanic ash. Paleontologists speculate that the volcanic blast or debris thrown into the ocean was responsible for the plesiosaur's death.
Researcher carefully excavates the fossil plesiosaur. Photo by James Martin, used with permission.
Researcher carefully excavates the fossil plesiosaur. Photo by James Martin, used with permission.
Excavation of the fossil was extremely difficult because of weather conditions. The paleontolgists had to contend with 70 mile per hour winds sweeping the excavation site, low temperatures and frozen ground. Transporting the specimen to the Herbert Sound camp would have been extremely difficult but the researchers were fortunate to get helicopter support from the Argentine air force.
Artist's impression of the plesiosaur and environment. Painting by Nicolle Rager, National Science Foundation.
Artist's impression of the plesiosaur and environment. Painting by Nicolle Rager, National Science Foundation.
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