Svalbard fossil bonanza

Update: You can get a look at some fossils and diagrams from the University of Oslo team here.

In 2006 the BBC ran an article about a team of scientists from the University of Oslo that uncovered a "treasure trove" of Jurassic ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pliosaurs, including an extremely large pliosaur informally dubbed "the Monster." According to a follow-up report released today, the "Monster" (it is still awaiting formal description) is the largest pliosaur yet known, estimated as being 20% larger than the famous Kronosaurus.

Although the team initially hoped that the skeleton would be complete, excavations showed that much of the skeleton had been washed away (although the skull at at least one complete forelimb were recovered). This means that things could get interesting if another pliosaur discovered in 2002 in Mexico proves to be of comparable size (and we'll have yet another debate about which monstrous predator was the biggest of all). A second large pliosaur is also currently being excavated, and the area holds plenty of other specimens that will make the Spitsbergen location one of the most productive fossil sites for ancient marine reptiles in the world.