Tanystropheus

Taxobox
name = "Tanystropheus"
fossil_range = Middle Triassic

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image_width=250px
image_caption = Restoration of "Tanystropheus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
infraclassis = Archosauromorpha
ordo = Prolacertiformes
familia = Tanystrophidae
genus = "Tanystropheus"
genus_authority = Meyer, 1855
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "T. conspicuus" (type)
* "T. longobardicus"
* "T. meridensis"
synonyms=
*"Tribelesodon" Bassani, 1886

"Tanystropheus", or Long Necked One, was a 6 metre (20 ft) long reptile that dated from the Middle Triassic period. It is recognizable by its extremely elongated neck, which measured 3 meters (10 ft) long, longer than its body and tail combined. Despite this length, it had only ten neck vertebrae, each quite long. Fossils have been found in Europe and the Middle East. "Tribelesodon", originally considered to be a pterosaur by Francesco Bassani in 1886, is now recognized as a junior synonym to "Tanystropheus". The best-known species is "Tanystropheus longobardicus". Other currently recognized species include "T. conspicuus" and "T. meridensis". [http://users.unimi.it/vertpal/galleriafossili/best-rettili/tanystropheus.htm "Tanystropheus"] . Vertebrate Palaeontology at Milano University. Retrieved 2007-02-19.]

With this incredibly long but relatively stiff neck, "Tanystropheus" has been often proposed and reconstructed as an aquatic or semi-aquatic reptile, a theory supported by the fact that the creature is most commonly found in semiaquatic fossil sites wherein known terrestrial reptile remains are scarce. "Tanystropheus" is most often considered to have been piscivorous (or 'fish-eating'), due to the presence of a long, narrow snout sporting sharp interlocking teeth. In several young specimens, three cusped cheek teeth are present in the jaw, which might indicate an insectivorous diet; however, similar teeth patterns have been found in "Eudimorphodon" and "Langobardisaurus", both of whom are considered piscivores. Additionally, hooklets of cephalopods and what may be fish scales have been found near the belly regions of some specimens.

In 2002, fossils of a related genus, "Dinocephalosaurus", were collected in marine Triassic deposits in southwestern China. This new creature was 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) long, 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) of which was its neck and head. The specimen was described in 2004.

Possible lifestyles of "Tanystropheus"

Though the animal is generally considered to have been a sort of 'reverse amphibian', sitting on the shoreline and snatching fish and other marine life from the shallows with its long neck and sharp teeth, the almost disproportionate neck presents several problems for such a lifestyle. Some scientists have argued that such a disproportionate neck would have placed "Tanystropheus"' center of gravity in front of its arms- causing it to fall flat on its face every time its neck stuck out. For this and other reasons, David Peters has suggested a primarily terrestrial lifestyle, with the creature rearing up bipedally on its hind limbs, holding its neck vertically, keeping the creature balanced. Some who subscribe to this theory envision the animal waiting at the base of a tree and snatching small, arboreal animals out of its branches with its lengthy neck and small head. Peters (along with several other scientists) also believes that prolacertiforms (such as "Tanystropheus") were the ancestors of pterosaurs, and thus assigns prevalently terrestrial behavior to them.

A 2006 specimen discovered in Switzerland by Dr. Silvio Renesto, however, has shifted gears back to the former viewpoint of "Tanystropheus"' lifestyle. The specimen boasts the first reported soft tissue of the creature to have been found thus far, including traces of skin that show a non-rectangular, overlapping pattern of scales. But more relevantly, the specimen displays an unusual "black material" around the base of its tail, containing several calcium carbonate spherules, suggesting a quite noticeable amount of flesh behind the animal's hips. In addition to containing powerful hind limb muscles, such a huge backside would have shifted the creature's weight to its rear, stabilizing the animal as it swung and maneuvered its massive 3 metre (10 ft) neck.

In popular culture

"Tanystropheus" was featured briefly in Episode 2 of BBC's "Walking with Dinosaurs" spin-off, "Sea Monsters". During the show, while Nigel Marvin is swimming around the Triassic seas, he encounters a "Tanystropheus" amongst a pair of "Nothosaurus" and a "Cymbospondylus". Sneaking up behind the creature, he seizes its tail only for it to break off in a lizard-like fashion.

A small model of "Tanystropheus" was added to the Safari Ltd.'s popular Carnegie Museum dinosaur model series in 1999. The model is green and brown in color with a striking blue underside, and contains a bendable neck; the only model in the series to date with movable parts.

Hasbro/Kenner released a "Tanystropheus" action figure in the second series of the Jurassic Park toyline. It has been re-released twice, once repainted and once as a mutant in the "" toyline as the Tanaconda which was mixed with the DNA of a Tanystropheus and an Anaconda.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/seamonsters/factfiles/tanystropheus.shtml?img1 BBC reconstruction of "Tanystropheus" (assumes the animal was aquatic)]
* [http://users.unimi.it/vertpal/galleriafossili/best-rettili/tanystropheus.htm Milano University's page on "Tanystropheus".] Contains specimen information and a highly informative functional morphology page.
* [http://www.hmnh.org/archives/category/mesozoic/triassic/ Hairy Museum of Natural History's coverage of the discovery of the 2006 specimen with the large backside, contains illustrations.]
* [http://safariltd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SL&Product_Code=410101 Safari Ltd.'s toy replica of "Tanystropheus"]