3D Reconstructed Styxosaurus snowii debuts in Canadian museum

You can help give it a name!

Museum buffs and dinosaur lovers have a new stop to check out in Morden, Manitoba. While the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre there is already well known for its collection of marine reptile fossils, its newest addition is a standout, and on the cutting edge of technology.

A 20 ft (6.1 m) recreation of a Styxosaurus snowii, a long-necked plesiosaur relative, is now on display alongside a 28 ft (8.5 m) skeletal recreation.

The museum says it utilized five different 3D imaging softwares before 3D printing the replica skeleton. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and yet another 3D software were used to generate the fleshed out creature.

Both recreations are mounted and displayed alongside the actual fossil remains of the marine reptile.

Styxosaurus, like other plesiosaurs, features hook-like teeth for snagging fish; an elongated neck, with up to 75 vertebrae, for ambushing its prey; and many remains find gastroliths, or stomach stones, to help grind up the meal.

The holotype of the marine reptile is stored in the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum in Lawrence, Kansas. It was discovered in 1890 making Styxosaurus one of the first and best known elasmosaurid plesiosaurs. Some 80 million years ago both Kansas and Manitoba were submerged under the Western Interior Seaway, explaining why both regions have found significant amounts of ancient sealife.

Back in Morden, visitors to the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre have the chance to give the new display a nickname, a longstanding tradition at the museum. The museum’s most famous resident is tylosaur named Bruce. You can buy replica vertebrae of that famous marine reptile in addition to more standard gift shop fare like mugs and postcards.

You can visit both Bruce and the as yet unnamed Styxosaurus snowii display from 10-6 Monday to Friday, or noon to 6 on weekends.