Spitrasaurus

Spitrasaurus had at least 60 neck bones (cervical vertebrae), which is more than most other Jurassic plesiosaurs. Only some Cretaceous elasmosaurids had more.1

The neck bones of Spitrasaurus had a prominent ridge on the side, a feature not seen in many related plesiosaurs like Djupedalia or Kimmerosaurus.1

Two species of Spitrasaurus have been named: S. wensaasi and S. larseni. They differ in the shape of their neck bones and ribs.1

The first specimen of Spitrasaurus (S. wensaasi) was a juvenile, because its vertebrae were not fully fused. It was preserved lying on its back in black mudstone.1

Spitrasaurus lived about 149 to 143 million years ago, during the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period. Its fossils were found in the Slottsmøya Member of the Agardhfjellet Formation.21

The name Spitrasaurus honors Spitsbergen Travel, a local travel company that helped support the research.1