| Tanystropheus | |
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| An artist's illustration of Tanystropheus conspicuus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Protorosauria |
| Family: | †Tanystropheidae |
| Genus: | †Tanystropheus |
| Referred species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Tanystropheus was a 6 metre (20 ft) long prolacertiform marine reptile that dates from the Middle Triassic period. It is recognizable by its extremely elongated neck, which measured 3 metres (10 ft) long - longer than its body and tail combined. Despite this length, it had only ten neck vertebrae, but each one was quite long. Its fossils have been found in Europe, the Middle East and China. Complete skeletons of juvenile individuals are most abundant in the Besano Formation of Italy and Switzerland, dating to 232 million years ago during the middle Triassic period (Ladinian stage).
In popular culture[]
- Tanystropheus was also featured in the BBC Walking With Dinosaurs Special: Sea Monsters, where it was in the Triassic Ocean, walking across the seabed hunting for fish. It was depicted a little correctly with a 'removable' tail, similar to some modern species of lizards. It is still not proven if Tanystropheus could actually shed its tail yet, though.