Uncovering the Prehistoric Diet of 'Eric' the Opalized Plesiosaur.
Palaeontologists used X-rays to investigate the gut contents of an opalized plesiosaur known as "Eric" and discovered 17 vertebrae of a previously undescribed teleost fish, demonstrating that plesiosaurs were pescatarians. The study provides new insights into the diets and lifestyles of plesiosaurs and can help us better understand how predicted changes in climate could affect extant marine life. Eric's remains have been opalized, a phenomenon that's almost unique to Australia that turns remains into literal gems.