Scientific name: Martinectes bonneri
Name means: “Martin’s swimmer”
Excavated: 1976 in South Dakota (skull) and Wyoming (body)
Length: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Width: 13 ft (3.9 m)
Skull: 3.22 ft long (98 cm)
New MOEH Addition, part 3
January 30, 2025
New MOEH Fossil, part 3
We are blessed and excited to have on the road another impressive full skeleton of a large marine reptile. Martinectes was a species of short-necked plesiosaurs in the Polycotylidae family, whose kind was created on the 5th Day of history. These marine reptiles are believed to have had impressive speeds and maneuverability due to their large, powerful flippers. Each flipper has five digits (fingers) with hyperphalangism, meaning they have a large number of phalanges (up to 18 bones) per digit. Their conical, interlocking teeth support the idea that their diet consisted primarily of fish and other soft bodied marine creatures.
Fossils of this created kind have been found in marine sediments in Australia, Canada, Eastern Europe, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, South America, and the United States. The global result of rapidly buried creatures in marine sediments can best be explained by a global cause – the global flood recorded in Genesis.
CTF’s Martinectes fossil represents two of the largest specimens ever discovered. Excavated in 1976, the skull (specimen KUVP 40001) was collected from the Pierre Shale at the Wallace Ranch in Fall River County, SD. The body (specimen KUVP 40002) was collected four miles away in the Pierre Shale at the Johnson Ranch in Niobrara County, WY. The fossils were later prepared at the labs of the University of Kansas and the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in a three-year collaborative effort. The specimens were originally identified as Trinacromerum bonneri in 1977, were reclassified as Dolichorhynchops bonneri in 1996, and then reclassified again as Martinectes bonneri in 2023 due to its much larger size and slight anatomical differences with all other Dolichorhynchops specimens. A 2017 study suggested that the body to which the skull belonged (KUVP 40001) may have reached 23 feet in length.
The genus name Martinectes is in honor of University of Kansas paleontologist Larry Martin (1943-2013). Though an evolutionist, Martin was a vocal opponent to the idea of dinosaurs evolving into birds. The species name bonneri is in honor of Marion Bonner (1911-1992), who spent 60 years collecting fossils in western Kansas. Again, we are blessed to have such an incredible specimen of aquatic engineering to display for the glory of our Creator God.
EACH OF THESE ARTICLES ARE EXCERPTS FROM AMERICA’S EPIC ADVENTURE TM - CTF'S NEWEST VBS CURRICULUM From Lesson 1: The Pilgrims, Walking by Faith in the Lord – Proverbs 3:5-6
There are moments in life that we experience the Lord’s Providence, which is the continual guiding and caring of us for His purposes. We may go though trials and suffering now to refine our faith in preparation for eternity. Other times we may see it for the here and now, with the aligning of plans for His purpose in our life, maybe with the opening or closing of a door. Many times we see Providence only in hindsight, looking back on life and seeing His hand working, molding and inspiring us for His plans and to His glory. I can see the Lord’s Providence at many times over the course of my life. Early in my grade school years I developed a love for building models I was recently reminded, along with my father, that we built a train set together in our basement. Following that, I began to build model cars and airplanes. I now know that love of building, tinkering and problem solving was Providence preparing me for this ministry. The Lord taught me early on how to stay focused and pay attention to detail. What I thought was only a hobby at the time is now something I must use on a regular basis in things such as fossil restoration, building crates, trailer and vehicle maintenance for our mobile museum. Later in high school, while active in church, the Lord called me to serve our children’s church ministry. I began to help teach others about Jesus. It seemed insignificant at the time. I remember helping in lesson times and the puppet ministry. I even was cast as “Pastor Rufus” in one of our ongoing puppet skits. My opportunities to share Christ and be an example to those younger than I was tremendous. Again through His Providence, the Lord was guiding me and calling me to ministry. He developed in me the love of teaching His Word to others, priceless to me today. Then in college Providence brought Theresa and I together. The Lord knew exactly who I needed to be my bride for life. She is strong in my weakness and more Christ-like than anyone I know. She is the perfect helpmate and partner for me in ministry as well, which has so far been 34 years, to be exact. Many times the Lord has used her discernment to direct me through a situation that I did not see correctly. I am thankful every day for Providence that brought us together in life and eternal work. As I look back on my life, there are more Providential moments than I have space to write. Most of those times have directly guided me to this specific ministry and my call to preach and teach His Word. Looking back on life and identifying those moments of Providence from the Lord is humbling and awe-inspiring. Please take a moment to remember your own moments when Providence has been evident in your life. This ministry is about identifying Providence from the beginning. His plan from the start is us spending eternity in His presence. Our sin messed some things up, but not His plan. He always has and always will know exactly how to guide and care for us so that we bring Him the glory, now and eternally. There is not a month that goes by that we here at CTF don’t praise the Lord for His Providence through you, our supporters and sustainers. Join with me in thanks for His Providence each day, guiding as only our Creator and Savior could do. Psalms 31:3-5 Blessings.