August 8th, 2015 
riffin Researchers in Alaska have uncovered the bones of a prehistoric marine reptile dating back 70 million years.
Elasmosaurs had extremely long necks, small heads and paddle-shaped limbs for swimming Photo: Nobu Tamura
This is the first time an elasmosaur has ever been unearthed in this state. Its vertebrae were discovered embedded in an eroding cliff.
Elasmosaurs had extremely long necks, small heads and paddle-shaped limbs for swimming.
Curvin Metzler (left) and Dr Patrick Druckenmiller on the cliff face where the elasmosaur was discovered Photo: University of Alaska Museum of the North
There are many theories to explain the length of its neck, but most believe it was to help with feeding.
Researchers are hopeful the find will provide new information.
A neck vertebra exposed in the cliff face (upper right) Photo: University of Alaska Museum of the North
Patrick Druckenmiller, Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, said: “If you think of the Loch Ness Monster, that mythical creature’s body was based on the elasmosaur.”
Source : telegraph.co.uk
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