An Elasmosaur fossil at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre. Photo courtesy courtenaymuseum.ca.
British Columbians have a chance to decide the official fossil symbol of B.C., including two candidates found on Vancouver Island.
Residents can choose between seven fossil candidates in the online survey from the forests and lands ministry.
The quest to determine a provincial fossil symbol came after the Royal BC Museum in Victoria received a donation of 18,000 fossils dating back 52-million years.
Among the fossils to choose from is the 15-metre reptile called the Elasmosaur, which was discovered in 1988 in the Puntledge River.
It is on display at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.
Another candidate is an ammonite called Canadoceras yokoyamai, discovered near Nanaimo and between 80 and 85 years old.
Other fossils to consider are the salmon, lace crab, trilobite, ichthyosaur and yabeina columbiana.
The voting period ends Friday and the fossil with the most votes will be recommended for consideration as the provincial fossil emblem.
CHEK News
