http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15139760/?GT1=8618

Remains of ancient reptile are found
Prehistoric, short-necked plesiosaur was as large as a bus

Updated: 8:12 a.m. ET Oct. 5, 2006

OSLO, Norway - {AP} Researchers on Thursday announced the discovery of
the remains of a short-necked plesiosaur, a prehistoric marine reptile
the size of a bus, that they believe is the first complete skeleton ever
found.

The 150 million year old remains of the 33-foot ocean going predator
were found in August on the remote Svalbard Islands of the Arctic, the
University of Oslo announced.

Fragments of plesiosaur have been found elsewhere, including in England,
Russia, and Argentina, but researcher Joern Harald Hurum said the
partially fossilized Svalbard find appeared to be the first whole
example.

"We are quite sure it is complete," he said by telephone about the
partially buried fossils. "We have the head, and can see about six
meters (20 feet) of vertebrae before it disappears into the ground."

Hurum said the voracious plesiosaurs were like the Tyrannosaurus Rex of
the oceans, "expect its head is much bigger. About 2 meters (6.5 feet)
long, compared to about 1.6 meters (5.25 feet) for Tyrannosaurus Rex."

The University's Natural History Museum said the reptile was "as long as
a bus, with teeth larger than cucumbers ... in a head that could swallow
an adult human whole."

Hurum said his team plans return to Svalbard, 300 miles north of
Norway's mainland, to continue excavations next year.

Twenty-seven other marine reptiles were also found during a two-week
expedition: 21 long-necked plesiosaurs, sea reptiles similar to drawings
of the Loch Ness monster, and six ichthyosaurs, reptiles that looked and
had fins like fish.

/end

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15139760/?GT1=8618

Remains of ancient reptile are found
Prehistoric, short-necked plesiosaur was as large as a bus

Updated: 8:12 a.m. ET Oct. 5, 2006

OSLO, Norway - {AP} Researchers on Thursday announced the discovery of
the remains of a short-necked plesiosaur, a prehistoric marine reptile
the size of a bus, that they believe is the first complete skeleton ever
found.

The 150 million year old remains of the 33-foot ocean going predator
were found in August on the remote Svalbard Islands of the Arctic, the
University of Oslo announced.

Fragments of plesiosaur have been found elsewhere, including in England,
Russia, and Argentina, but researcher Joern Harald Hurum said the
partially fossilized Svalbard find appeared to be the first whole
example.

"We are quite sure it is complete," he said by telephone about the
partially buried fossils. "We have the head, and can see about six
meters (20 feet) of vertebrae before it disappears into the ground."

Hurum said the voracious plesiosaurs were like the Tyrannosaurus Rex of
the oceans, "expect its head is much bigger. About 2 meters (6.5 feet)
long, compared to about 1.6 meters (5.25 feet) for Tyrannosaurus Rex."

The University's Natural History Museum said the reptile was "as long as
a bus, with teeth larger than cucumbers ... in a head that could swallow
an adult human whole."

Hurum said his team plans return to Svalbard, 300 miles north of
Norway's mainland, to continue excavations next year.

Twenty-seven other marine reptiles were also found during a two-week
expedition: 21 long-necked plesiosaurs, sea reptiles similar to drawings
of the Loch Ness monster, and six ichthyosaurs, reptiles that looked and
had fins like fish.

/end


--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.