Elasmosaurus

Elasmosaurus was a genus of gigantic, long-necked marine reptiles that lived during the Cretaceous Period. These creatures are related to Plesiosaurus and are classified within the order Sauropterygia.1

Elasmosaurus belonged to the plesiosauroid lineage, characterized by a small head and an exceptionally long, flexible neck. Some species, like Elasmosaurus, possessed up to 76 vertebrae in their necks alone, contributing to a total body length of approximately 13 meters (43 feet), with the head and neck making up half of that length. These marine reptiles swam by flapping their fins and likely used their long necks and sharp teeth to capture fish. They were found in seas across the globe, including areas that are now North America, Asia, Australia, and around the Pacific Ocean.2