First records of a Plesiosaurian (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) and an Ichthyosaur (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) from Yukon, Canada

Authors

  • James A. Campbell Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6
  • Claudia J. Schröder-Adams Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6
  • James W. Haggart Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 1500-605 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3
  • Patrick S. Drucken-Miller University of Alaska Museum and Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775
  • Michael J. Ryan Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6
  • Grant D. Zazula Yukon Palaeontology Program, Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon, Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v127i3.1489

Keywords:

plesiosaurian, elasmosaurid, ichthyosaur, marine reptile, Early Cretaceous, Albian, Western Interior Sea, Arctic Red Formation, Garbutt Formation, Yukon

Abstract

An isolated centrum collected ex situ from marine shales of the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Arctic Red Formation along the Road River represents the first documented occurrence of a plesiosaurian from Yukon. This centrum represents the northernmost occurrence of plesiosaurians in the Western Interior Sea of North America prior to the establishment of the first continuous seaway (Western Interior Seaway) connecting the Boreal and Tethyan seas. Additionally, this centrum is potentially the second-oldest elasmosaurid specimen known from North America. A second centrum, collected along the Beaver River, is likely derived from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Garbutt Formation exposed farther upstream. It represents the first report of an ichthyosaur from Yukon. Additionally, six associated ribs collected from the Arctic Red Formation along the Peel River may also belong to a marine reptile; however, poor preservation of these ribs prevents a definitive taxonomic assignment.
Cover photo (butterfly) vol 127 issue 3, The Canadian Field-Naturalist

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Published

2013-12-03

Issue

Vol. 127 No. 3 (2013)

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Articles

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