Styxosaurus snowii

Post author:Adam S. Smith
Post published:02/04/2024
Post category:Species page

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Styxosaurus

Post author:Adam S. Smith
Post published:17/10/2020
Post category:Elasmosauridae Genus page Plesiosauria Plesiosauroidea

Styxosaurus snowii holotype skull, right side. Scale bar = 10cm. From Sachs et al. (2018).

The holotype specimen (KUVP 1301) of Styxosaurus is an articulated skull and anterior portion of the neck. It was found in the Niobrara Chalk near Hell Creek, Logan County, Western Kansas in 1890. It was described later that year as a new species Cimoliosaurus snowii by Williston (1890a) (and in more detail soon after by Williston 1890b), who subsequently...

Ogmodirus

Post author:Adam S. Smith
Post published:20/09/2018
Post category:Elasmosauridae Genus page Ogmodirus Plesiosauria Plesiosauroidea

'Ogmodirus' flipper (from Williston & Moodeie, 1917)

The type skeleton of ‘Ogmodirus’ was collected in 1909 by C. Boyce from the upper Greenhorn Limestone Formation (Lower Turonian, Upper Cretaceous) of Cloud County (near Aurora), Kansas (Storrs 1999, Schumacher and Everhart 2005). The specimen, KUVP 441, is a partial skeleton consisting of partial vertebral column (51 cervical vertebrae, 18 caudal vertebrae), limb, and girdle elements. Originally named...

Elasmosaurus

Post author:Adam S. Smith
Post published:22/07/2018
Post category:Elasmosauridae Elasmosaurus Genus page Plesiosauria Plesiosauroidea

Skeleton of Elasmosaurus from Cope (1869, revised version)

Elasmosaurus is one of the most widely recognised plesiosaur names and has become a stereotype for all elasmosaurids. However, it is relatively poorly known. The type and only known specimen of Elasmosaurus platyurus (ANSP 10081) includes the tip of the snout, occipital condyle, and the majority of the vertebral column. It is from the Sharon Springs Member (Lower Campanian) of...