elasmosaur
Long-necked swimmer
An elasmosaur is an extinct marine reptile from the late Cretaceous period, characterized by an extremely long neck, small head, and four paddle-like flippers.
These plesiosaurs could reach forty feet in length, with necks containing as many as seventy vertebrae.
The elasmosaur's serpentine silhouette has inspired speculation about sea monster sightings.
Having extended throat region
- flippersFoot-worn swim aids
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- elongateTo make longer
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- bonesRigid internal support structure
- digUnearth by shoveling
stratigraphy · sediment · petrification · mineralization · quarry · specimen · reconstruction · matrix
Final Mesozoic period
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
long-necked
Having extended throat region
- flippersFoot-worn swim aids
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- elongateTo make longer
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- bonesRigid internal support structure
dig · stratigraphy · sediment · petrification · mineralization · quarry · specimen · reconstruction · matrix · articulated
Cretaceous
Final Mesozoic period
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
Mesozoic · Gondwana · ammonite · prehistoric
ocean
Massive saltwater body
depths · predator · fish-eater · seafloor · coastal · belemnite · cephalopod · teleost · prey
elasmosaurTyrannosaurus rex
Large theropod dinosaur species
theropod · sauropod · dinosaur · Velociraptor · pterosaur
saurian, saurians, sauropod, sauropods, dinosaur, dinosaurs, dinosaurian, tyrannosaur, tyrannosaurs