Re: Kansas Elasmosaur

[Danvarner@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/6/99 9:45:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
majestic_cheese@yahoo.com writes:

<<  I've always wondered how these
 odd creatures avoided being ingested by the local
 pliosaur/mosasaur tough guys.  >>

  Me too! We've worked some bentonite ("fossilized" volcanic ash) beds in 
South Dakota where mosasaurs were very common. The seas must have been loaded 
with them. How the elasmosaurs avoided annihilation is a problem. Perhaps 
mosasaur chow had to be swallowed whole or easily ripped apart. Also, I've 
always wondered if there are bite marks on the Archelon at Yale's Peabody 
Museum with the missing paddle. Dan Varner.