Puntledge River Elasmosaur Could Become B.C.'S Fossil Emblem

The Puntledge River elasmosaur could soon become British Columbia’s fossil emblem.

Tourism Minister Lana Popham introduced legislation yesterday that, if passed, would find the elasmosaur on the list of provincial symbols.

Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard introduced a private members bill earlier this year to adopt the elasmosaur as BC’s provincial fossil.

Leonard said the elasmosaur find was a significant and important paleontological discovery, and it has been a symbol of the riding for years.

The first elasmosaur fossil discovered in BC was found in November 1988 by Mike Trask and his daughter Heather, who were looking for fossils along the Puntledge River. Its discovery marked the first fossil of its kind found west of the Canadian Rockies.

The elasmosaur is a large marine reptile dating back to the Cretaceous period; approximately 80 million years ago. Since the initial find, another was found in Comox Valley in 2020.

Both are on display at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.