THE STUDY OF THE MESOZOIC MARINE REPTILES AT THE MUSEO DE LA PLATA EL ESTUDIO DE LOS REPTILES MARINOS MESOZOICOS EN EL MUSEO DE LA PLATA

HERRERA, YANINA; FERNÁNDEZ, MARTA S.

Publicacion Electronica de la Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina

Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina

Año: 2022 vol. 22 p. 265 - 274

The study of marine reptiles in Argentina in general, and in the Museo de La Plata in particular, began with some brief descriptions by European researchers. The first local contributions date from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. During the latter period, contributions on marine reptiles from this institution were the result of fortuitous findings from geological surveys and not from specific paleontological fieldwork. In the 1970s, the situation changed when Zulma Brandoni de Gasparini started a research program at the Museo de La Plata, which is currently continued by some of her students. Since then and within the framework of this program, Mesozoic marine formations were prospected in several provinces of Argentina and in the Antarctic Peninsula as well. Also, numerous students were trained, many of whom are currently developing their research on Mesozoic marine reptiles at the Museo de La Plata and other renowned national scientific institutions.