So, sorry, I don't think the plesiosaur idea holds up based on the data that we have obtained."

网友先看这个例子，是否和讨论的based on相似：

Based on the data presented in the bar graph, which of the following statements are true?

这里Based on 意思就是 According to。

陈用仪先生说过这个问题：

    本来based是由动词过去分词转变成的形容词，应该依附于某一个名词。【例如】His opinions are based entirely on prejudices. 他的意见完全是基于偏见。

但是用多了，往往游离于任何名词之外，引入一个状语成分，管句中的动词，而不管近处的名词。

【例如】(They) insist such a (DNA) databank must come with guarantees that no one be denied employment or insurance based on genetic makeup. (US News & World Report, Dec. 2, 2002, p. 60) 他们坚持主张，如果建立DNA数据库，就必须同时作出保证，对任何人都不得根据其基因结构而拒绝录用或拒绝承保（based on同前面的employment or insurance没有修饰关系，是修饰deny的状语）。

    What has changed radically in recent years is the view that cancers of different types—breast, lung, colon—are relatively homogeneous based on how they look under the microscope and how far they have burrowed into the body. (US News & World Report, Nov. 3-10, 2008, p. 46) 近年来发生了根本变化的，是原先的那个看法，认为各种不同类型的癌症，如乳腺癌、肺癌、结肠癌，按照显微镜下看到的形状以及钻入身体多深来看，似乎是比较同构的。

... accepting students based purely on merit, without regard to wealth,... (Jonathan D. Glater, The New York Times, June 10, 2009) …不问家庭经济情况，单纯按照优劣录取新生…

 ... my hearing must also be fading fast based on the increased volume directed at me. …从人家对我说话时加大了声门看来，我的听力一定是在迅速退化。

网友的句子，还可以尝试另一种分析：

I don't think the plesiosaur idea holds up based on the data that we have obtained."

= I don't think the plesiosaur idea holds up, which is / has been based on the data that we have obtained."