Hey curious minds!
Today’s mystery takes us way back to the time of dinosaurs, deep into the oceans where a strange sea monster once ruled the waves…
But here’s the twist: this creature’s bones were discovered decades ago—and only just now, in 2025, did scientists finally solve the riddle of what it really was!
Chapter 1: Bones in the Riverbed
Our mystery begins in 1988 near the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island in Canada. Two fossil hunters, Michael and Heather Trask, spotted something unusual sticking out of the rocks.
They carefully dug up the ancient bones—but these bones were weird. Long neck bones, powerful limbs, and big sharp teeth… scientists were baffled. Was it a type of plesiosaur? An elasmosaur? Or something else entirely?
They kept the bones safe, studied them, and even put them on display at a museum—but no one could say exactly what creature they belonged to.
A mystery was born!
Chapter 2: A Fossil Everyone Loved, But No One Knew
Over time, this unknown sea creature became famous in British Columbia. In 2018, people across the province voted for it to become their Provincial Fossil—and it won!
But… wait. Isn’t it strange to have an official fossil you can’t even name? Scientists didn’t give up. They kept searching for more clues.
Chapter 3: A Breakthrough in 2025!
Flash forward to this year—2025.
Something amazing happened.
A team of scientists from Canada, Chile, and the United States made a big announcement: The mystery has been solved!
They carefully examined not just one fossil—but three different ones from the same area. And this time, something clicked. They realized these weren’t ordinary elasmosaurs.
This was something brand new.
They named the creature Traskasaura sandrae (say it like: Trask-a-SORE-uh SAN-dray), in honor of the Trask family who found the first fossil, and Sandra O’Keefe, someone who bravely fought cancer.
Chapter 4: So What WAS Traskasaura?
Let’s break down this newly discovered ocean beast:
- Time Traveler: It lived 85 million years ago during the time of dinosaurs!
- Mega Size: It was about 12 meters long—as long as a city bus!
- Neck Like a Noodle: It had at least 50 bones in its neck, making it super flexible.
- Toothy Terror: Its sharp, strong teeth could crush its prey—probably shelled creatures called ammonites.
- Sneaky Hunter: It had a superpower—it could dive down from above and snatch prey from below!
One of its bones—the shoulder bone—was so strange that it confused scientists for years. No other known creature had a shoulder like it!
Chapter 5: Why It Matters
This mystery shows us how even old fossils can tell new stories. Just because something was discovered a long time ago doesn’t mean we’ve learned all there is to know.
By re-examining the fossils and using new science tools, these researchers solved a mystery that puzzled experts for more than 35 years!
Now, Traskasaura joins the prehistoric hall of fame as a one-of-a-kind sea hunter.
Science Sleuth Challenge
Can YOU solve the next science mystery? Here’s your mission:
- Draw Traskasaura diving down to grab a tasty ammonite snack.
- Make up your own sea monster—give it a name, powers, and a cool backstory!
- Imagine you’re a paleontologist. What tools would YOU use to solve an ancient mystery?
Stay curious, explorers!
Mysteries are everywhere in science… and YOU might be the one to solve the next one!
