# Elasmosaurus (*Elasmosaurus platyurus*)

Elasmosaurus was a powerful marine reptile that swam the ancient seas using flippers and a streamlined body.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic oceans and coastal waters

![Elasmosaurus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424354/objects/5801.jpg)

## Appearance

The Elasmosaurus has an incredibly long neck, a tiny head, and a large, sleek body with four powerful paddle-like flippers. Its back might have been dark blue-grey, fading to a lighter underside for camouflage in ancient seas.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Early scientists once put its head on the wrong end of its body!
- Elasmosaurus swam the same oceans as fierce mosasaurs and sharks.
- Its neck had over 70 bones, more than any other known animal!
- This massive marine reptile could grow longer than a school bus!

## Special abilities

- **Neck Ambush:** Elasmosaurus can snatch fast-moving prey from below with its super-long neck, darting its head quickly through the water.
- **Underwater Flight:** Elasmosaurus uses four strong, paddle-like flippers to 'fly' gracefully through the water, like a sea turtle.
- **Stealthy Snatcher:** Its small, streamlined head allows Elasmosaurus to dart into schools of fish without startling the whole group.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 10-14 m
- **Weight:** 1500-2000 kg
- **Era:** Cretaceous Period
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 66

## Diet & Feeding

This ancient marine reptile hunted fish, squid, and other small sea creatures with its long neck.

- **Primary Foods:** Fish, Ammonites, Squid, Bony fish
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Sabretooth Herring (*Enchodus ferox*) — A primary prey fish for Elasmosaurus.
- **Eats:** Straight Ammonite (*Baculites ovatus*) — A common cephalopod prey in its ancient ocean habitat.
- **Eaten by:** Tylosaurus (*Tylosaurus proriger*) — Juvenile Elasmosaurus were likely prey for large mosasaurs.
- **Eaten by:** Crow Shark (*Squalicorax pristodontus*) — Sharks may have preyed on young or injured Elasmosaurus.

## Traits

- [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
- [Crystalline](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crystalline): Crystalline describes a mineral or rock composed of crystals, often exhibiting a regular atomic structure and geometric external form.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Elasmosaurus?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Elasmosaurus?

10-14 m

### How much does Elasmosaurus weigh?

1500-2000 kg

### What does Elasmosaurus eat?

This ancient marine reptile hunted fish, squid, and other small sea creatures with its long neck.

### Where is Elasmosaurus usually found?

Mesozoic oceans and coastal waters

### How does Elasmosaurus hunt?

Ambush

### What geologic era did Elasmosaurus live in?

Cretaceous Period

### When did Elasmosaurus go extinct?

66

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

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Source: [Elasmosaurus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elasmosaurus)