Title: Super Long-Necked Marine Reptile Fossil Rewrites Evolution History

Ancient Marine Reptile wiht Exceptionally Long Neck Discovered in China

Lijiang,‌ china – Paleontologists have unearthed a fossil of a previously unkown marine ‌reptile in China’s Yunnan province, revealing the oldest known ‌sauropterygian to possess an extraordinarily long neck. The finding,detailed in the journal Communications Biology,pushes back the timeline for ⁣the evolution of this key adaptation adn offers new insights into​ the recovery of marine ecosystems following the Permian mass extinction.

The reptile, named Lijiangosaurus, lived ‌approximately 240 million‍ years ago during the Early Triassic period.This finding is significant because it ⁤demonstrates that the evolution of extremely elongated necks‍ in marine reptiles occurred⁢ earlier than previously believed, challenging existing understandings of sauropterygian‌ development. The Permian-Triassic extinction event wiped out a vast⁤ majority of life on Earth, and the ⁢subsequent period saw rapid evolutionary experimentation as animals adapted to fill newly available ecological niches.

Lijiangosaurus not only boasted a ⁣long neck but also exhibited unique articulations ‍between its‍ vertebrae – a feature not seen in other known reptiles. Researchers hypothesize this specialized bone structure aided in body stability while ⁢swimming, potentially allowing the reptile to move ​more efficiently through the water.

“We think this structure helps ⁤reduce body waves during swimming,” the scientists stated.

The discovery highlights the evolutionary versatility of early​ sauropterygians and adds to the growing understanding of vertebral diversity in reptiles. the research team concluded that Lijiangosaurus provides valuable⁣ evidence of the dynamic skeletal adaptations occurring in the wake of the Permian mass extinction.