Ancient Sea Monster Fossil 85 Million Years Old, Found

The oldest fossil sea monster 85 million years old found in Antarctica. Monstrer invention, which is actually a type of ancient marine reptiles Plesiosaur, makes scientists think that reptiles are there in Antarctica 15 million years before the predicted time.

"Fragments that we find are not included in the group has ever encountered before, so it indicates a Plesiosaur greater diversity than expected," said Alexander Keliner from the National Museum of Brazil at the University of Rio de Janeiro, as quoted by National Geographic, Wednesday (24 / 8 / 2011).

Fragments of the spine, head, fins indicate that the Plesiosaur that was found to have a length of about 6-7 meters. Unfortunately, the bones were found did not allow scientists to identify species of Plesiosaur this.

Plesiosaur spread around the Earth at the time between 205-65 million years ago, and reached the southern hemisphere in mid-Jurassic era.

These animals have diverse characteristics, but most have a small head, long neck and big body. Fossil specimens in this study are found in between 2.5 tons of fossils and rock samples collected in the Antarctic expedition in Rhose Island throughout the year from 2006 to 2007.

Most of the specimens stored in museums, including the fossilized tree seera with Plesiosaur. "The tree shows that there are forests in Antarctica at that time. We believe that these animals live in an environment very different from now," Kellner added. The results published in the journal Polar, June.