Tylosaurus kansasensis was named by Everhart (2005). Its type specimen is FHSM VP-2295, a partial skeleton (A complete, articulated skull and seven cervical vertebrae), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is FHSM VP-2295 locality, Ellis County, which is in a Coniacian marine chalk in the Niobrara Formation of Kansas.