A reptile species that lived in the Middle Triassic period about 242 million years ago, named Tanystropheus with a really long neck, has astonished scientists since a fossil was discovered back in 1852. But recently, in a new study, scientists have uncovered some absolutely amazing facts surrounding the animal. This news soon reached social media, and has since made quite a buzz online.
“For those people who are interested in Triassic reptiles, it has always been not only an iconic fossil, but also a matter of controversy and discussion,” said Olivier Rieppel, a paleontologist at the Field Museum in Chicago and one of the authors of the study against CNN.
An illustration of Tanystropheus shared on Twitter. (Twitter / Field Museum (Emma Finley-Jacob))
Field Museum also took to Twitter to share a thread with several interesting facts discovered about the reptile and a link to a CNN report. ‘Since 1852, scientists have been wondering about Panystropheus, an animal that lived 242 million years ago. Long, hollow bones suggested that it was a flying reptile, like a pterodactyl. In fact, these were neck bones, ”they tweeted, sharing an illustration of the reptile.
They also tweeted that these animals with remarkably large necks did not stay on land but in water.
Tanystropheus was a 20-foot-long reptile with a 10-foot-long neck. But scientists still did not know if it grazed the land or swam the waters. 🤔
Would you rather have a neck or legs twice as long as your body?
– Field Museum (@FieldMuseum) August 7, 2020
The species once lived in Switzerland’s Monte San Giorgio basin during the Middle Triassic period, CNN reports. They also saw unusually long necks that were about 10 feet long, half of their entire 20-foot-long body.
Tanystropheus has always interested scientists. Now, using computed tomography (CT) scan technology, scientists have digitally reconstructed the crushed skulls of fossils, presenting their new information.
People shared several comments on social media platforms, most notably Twitter.
Tanystropheus wants you to know that you can do it! pic.twitter.com/uSPa0CvDCE
– Joe Montibello (@firstweet) August 6, 2020
Tanystropheus has been one of my favorites since I was really little and I’m glad to see the tall little guy on my feed today. Half asleep so I did not read the new study until morning tho lol
– Marie @ COMMISSIONS OPEN #bIm (@SlushieCafe) August 8, 2020
I’ve never heard of this guy before, but I already love his long long neck. This boy wore the neck!
– Abby (@Maebold) August 8, 2020
Just learned about the tanystropheus for the first time, thanks to scientific emails for science I get, and this thing makes a giraffe out with short necks.
– Amanda Morris 🌵 (@AmandaMoMorris) August 7, 2020
The best news today is that MY BOY tanystropheus Twitter is getting love ❤❤
– Three Hares (@threehares) August 8, 2020
What are your thoughts?
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