The Elasmosaurus files Back

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Species list

  • E. platyurus (Cope, 1868) type species

    • Name : Elasmosaurus Species : platyurus
    Pronounced : ee-LAZ-moh-SAWR-us Pronounced : plat-ee-YOOR-uhs
    Meaning : "plate reptile" Meaning : "flat-tailed"
    actually refers to the neck which Cope thought was the tail!
    Length :
    up to 14 meters (46 feet)     		Neck Length :
    about 8 meters (26 feet)     		Weight :
    2+ tons
    Diet : carnivor = fish and shellfish Period : Upper Cretaceous
    Superorder :
    		Order :
    		Suborder :
    		Superfamily :
    		Family :
    Discovered by:
    Dr. Theophilus H. Turner     		When Discovered:
    1867     		Described by:
    Edward Drinker Cope     		When described:
    1868
    Fossils found in : Kansas
    Charactistics and things of interest: An incident involving elasmosaurus was a source of contention between the famous bone hunters E.D. Cope and O.C. Marsh. Cope being the one who described and named the beast. Setting up an exhibit of the skeleton of which Marsh examined and observed that the skull had been incorrectly placed on the wrong end - on the tail instead of elasmosaurus's neck, this embarrassed and offended Cope no end. It is unfortunate that these two great men locked themselves up in a lifetime of rivalry and war when they could have teamed up and done even greater things as friends.
    Similar to: Debate and Controversy:

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    Last Updated on 01/01/2008

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