The fossil of a sea reptile found two years ago in Alaska may be that of a previously unknown species, a scientist who was part of a team that discovered and excavated the remains said on Wednesday.
The creature, a kind of thalattosaur, swam in the ocean and crawled on land about 210 million years ago, said Pat Druckenmiller, a geologist and the earth-science curator of the University of Alaska's Museum of the North in Fairbanks.
"This does not look like anything else that's ever been discovered before," said Druckenmiller, who is studying the fossil.
The animal was 3 to 4 feet long with an extended tail to help propel it, an unusual skull and a very pointy beak, Druckenmiller said. It also had sharp teeth, but only at the back of its mouth.
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1 comment:
Incidentally the photo has nothing to do with that specimen, and looks to be a stock photo of an archeological excavation.
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