Wapuskanectes

Wapuskanectes is the oldest known elasmosaur from North America, living about 112 million years ago.1

Its name comes from the Cree word 'Wapuska', meaning a body of water with whitecaps, and the Greek word 'nectes', meaning swimmer.1

The species name, betsynichollsae, honors Dr. Elizabeth 'Betsy' Nicholls, a famous curator of marine reptiles.1

Some Wapuskanectes fossils were found with gastroliths, or stomach stones, which may have helped them digest food.1

The gastroliths were mostly black, polished chert pebbles, and the largest one weighed 14.5 grams.1

One fossil, TMP 2012.50.1, was discovered when a grader plowed through its neck, destroying the skull and most of the neck.1