The 70-million-year-old plesiosaur fossil resembles the Loch Ness monster

Researchers have found a 70-million-year-old fossil of a marine reptile in Mount Talkeetna, Alaska, shaped like a Loch Ness monster.

Discovered a 70-million-year-old fossil like the Loch Ness monster

According to a statement published on July 22 by Alaska Museum of the University , Curvin Metzler, a fossil specimen collection specialist, found the skeleton of the long-necked plesiosaur (elasmosaur), a member of the plesiosaur reptile.

Researchers have unearthed a 70-million-year-old fossil skeleton of a long-necked plesiosaur.(Photo: Wikipedia Commons.)

The plesiosaur has a very long neck and paddle-like limbs help them swim in the water. " Just look at the picture of Loch Ness lake monster and you will have a clear picture of their shape, " said Patrick Druckenmiller, who is in charge of the earth science department and marine fossil specialist.

Long-necked long-necked barbaria lived about 70 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period. They existed in the same period as dinosaurs but were not classified as dinosaurs because they could not travel on land or meet other criteria of this group.

"I was really surprised when Curvin showed me a piece of bone for the first time. I realized it was the spine bone in the neck of the animal and wanted to visit the excavation area to see if we could find more. Based on the size of the skeleton we excavated, the animal must be at least 7.6 meters long , "Druckenmiller said.