A set of marine fossils discovered on Vancouver Island has been officially classified. A 2025 study in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology confirms the fossils belong to a new genus and species of elasmosaur, named Traskasaura sandrae.
Michael and Heather Trask found the first fossil in 1988 near the Puntledge River. The discovery of a second, better-preserved juvenile fossil in 2020 helped researchers confirm the creature's unique anatomy. Traskasaura sandrae lived roughly 85 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period, reaching 12 meters in length. It possessed strong jaws and teeth suited for crushing shells, preying on ammonites.
British Columbia declared the elasmosaur its official fossil in 2023. The genus name Traskasaura honors Michael and Heather Trask, while the species name sandrae commemorates Sandra Lee O'Keefe. Professor F. Robin O'Keefe of Marshall University led the research team that formally identified this new genus.