NEW YORK: Scientists from the US and Argentina have unearthed the fossil skeleton of a prehistoric creature that probably bore a close resemblance to the legendary Loch Ness monster. The almost-complete skeleton, except for a missing skull, was remarkably preserved by the volcanic ash from an eruption that must have killed the creature, the paleontologists speculate.
The creature was identified as a plesiosaur – a diamond-finned, long-necked marine reptile that lived in the Southern Ocean about 70 million years ago.
The fossil measured about 5ft in length suggesting it was a young plesiosaur as the adult of the species could attain a length of over 30ft. The fossil bones also appear to be under-developed as would a juvenile animal's bones. After careful excavation and initial identification, the fossil was airlifted by an Argentine defense helicopter and flown to a South Dakota museum for further study.
Members of the 2-nation excavation team said the fossil was the “best-articulated fossil ever recovered from Antarctica”. They add that the ocean waters and land mass in the Polar region must have been much warmer than the sub-zero-temperature region that we know it to be.
The excavation work was carried out despite 70mph winds and freezing water. Transporting the fossil proved to be the biggest challenge. The ice-covered ground was hard to dig into and the sub-zero temperatures made it impossible to mix plaster with water to make an encasing for the fossil.
The tough conditions prevented the scientists from continuing their search for the missing skull in the surrounding area.
The fossil was spotted by J. Foster Sawyer who works for the South Dakota Geological Survey. The study was co-funded by the Instituto Antártico Argentino and the US's National Science Foundation.
