Predators Targeted Long-Necked Reptiles, Fossil Evidence Confirms

Fossil evidence of two species of Tanystropheus, a long-necked marine reptile, revealed that their necks were bitten apart by predators, possibly large nothosaurs or ichthyosaurs. The long necks of these reptiles were tempting targets for predators, but were also a successful evolutionary strategy for catching fish. Tanystropheus is the only known marine reptile to suffer such decapitation, as later reptiles like plesiosaurs had thicker layers of flesh and skin around their necks.