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.