Scientists find young plesiosaur in Antarctica

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Dec 12: Scientists fromthe United States and Argentina have recovered the fossil skeleton of a young plesiosaur -- a marine reptile that lived some 70 million years ago -- in Antarctica, institutes from both countries said.

''The fossil remains represent one of the most-complete plesiosaur skeletons ever found and is thought to be the best-articulated fossil skeleton ever recovered from Antarctica,'' the US National Science Foundation said yesterday.

Long-necked plesiosaurs swam in the oceans in the southern ocean when the Earth was far warmer than it is today, the Foundation said in a joint statement with the Argentine Antarctic Institute, which co-funded the exhibition.

The skeleton is about 5 feet long, one sixth the size of an adult, and its stomach area was very well-preserved.

''The researchers speculate volcanism similar to the massive eruption of Mt St Helens in Washington in 1980, may have caused the animal's death,'' the statement said.

Scientists believe the area where the fossil and other partial plesiosaur remains were found may have been a shallow area where marine reptiles gave birth and where young remained until they were big enough to go into open waters.

It was tough work getting the remains off of Vega Island in Antarctica due to freezing weather and 70 mph winds, the statement said.

''At the end of the work, icy temperatures turned water to slush before plaster could be mixed to encase the fossil for transportation,'' ''The ground was so frozen, a digging tool snapped in half during the excavation. Finally, a jackhammer had to be carried up to the site in backpacks along with gasoline, plaster, and water,'' the statement said.

Then, the remains were so heavy, five people had to lift them into an Argentine military helicopter that was flown in to help out.

REUTERS