A 12-meter-long marine predator, Traskasaura sandrae, has been identified from fossils found on Vancouver Island. The discovery reveals a unique hunting technique.
Traskasaura attacked prey from above, diving down like a submerged falcon, a strategy unseen in other marine reptiles. Its anatomy includes a long neck with over 50 vertebrae and teeth designed for crushing shells.
The initial fossils were found in 1988, with subsequent finds clarifying its unique characteristics. The name honors the Trask family, who discovered the first fossil, and Sandra Lee O'Keefe. Its unique features set it apart from other elasmosaurs.