Genus: Elasmosaurus COPE, 1869
Etymology: Greek, elasma, “metal plate”, Greek, sauros, “lizard”: Plate lizard.

Species: platyurus COPE, 1868
Etymology:

Holotype: ANSP 10081 (not ANSP 18001 as reported by Wells, 1952, 1962)

Locality: Field LeConte 1868 "...in a ravine 15 miles NW of the post, Fort Wallace Kansas,” at McAllister Buttte, Logan County, Kansas.

Horizon: Sharon Springs Member, Pierre Shale.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Upper Lower to Lower Middle Campanian Stage, Senonian Subepoch, Upper Gulf Epoch, Late Cretaceous

Material: Occiput of skull, partial rostrum, mandibular symphysis, 74 cervicals, 3 pectorals, 26 dorsals, 3 sacrals, and 26 caudals, pectrum and pelvis.
Note: Enchodus and 5 other species in the stomach region (CICIMURRI & EVERHART, 2001)