ˈɜːlɪɚ ɹˌiːkənstɹˈʌkʃənz dᵻpˈɪkt ðə kɹˈiːtʃɚɹ æz hˌævɪŋ sˈaɪdfˈɪnz ɹˈʌnɪŋ ðə lˈɛŋθ ʌv ɪts bˈɑːdi, stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ fɹʌm bᵻhˌaɪnd ðə bɹˈæŋkɪəl ˈoʊpənɪŋz tə ðə tˈɪp ʌv ɪts tˈeɪl: nˈuː ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ dˈɛmənstɹˌeɪts ðæt sˈʌtʃ "fˈɪnz" ɑːɹ ˈæktʃuːəli dᵻfoːɹmˈeɪʃənz ʌvðə bˈɑːdɪwˌɔːl æz ðə kˈɔːɹps wʌz bˌiːɪŋ skwˈɪʃt pˈoʊstbˈɛɹɪəl.
Earlier reconstructions depict the creature as having side-fins running the length of its body, starting from behind the branchial openings to the tip of its tail: new research demonstrates that such "fins" are actually deformations of the bodywall as the corpse was being squished post-burial.