The first record of a pliosaurid (Plesiosauria, Pliosauridae) from the Lower Cretaceous of North America

The fragmentary remains of a plesiosaur have been collected from the Haida Formation (Albian, Lower Cretaceous) at Cumshewa Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. The specimen is identified as a member of the family Pliosauridae, based on tooth structure. This is the first record of a pliosaurid from the west coast of North America, and the first pliosaurid from the Lower Cretaceous of North America.