Tanystropheus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Tanystropheus Temporal range: Middle Triassic

An drawing of a Tanystropheus
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Prolacertiformes
Family:	Tanystrophidae
Genus:	Tanystropheus Meyer, 1855
Species
T. meridensis T. longobardicus T. conspicuus

Tanystropheus (say: Tan-ee-STRO-fee-us) was a very unique reptile that lived a long, long time ago. Its most amazing feature was its incredibly long neck. This ancient animal lived during the Middle Triassic period, which was about 247 to 237 million years ago.

Fossils of Tanystropheus have been discovered in different parts of the world. Scientists have found its remains in places like Europe and the Middle East. This tells us where these fascinating creatures once roamed.

Meet Tanystropheus: The Long-Necked Reptile
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Meet Tanystropheus: The Long-Necked Reptile

Tanystropheus means "long-necked one." This name perfectly describes this ancient reptile. It was a very unusual animal because its neck was much longer than its body and tail combined! Imagine an animal with a neck that was three times longer than its torso.

What Was Tanystropheus?

Tanystropheus was a type of reptile, but it wasn't a dinosaur. It belonged to a group called Prolacertiformes. These reptiles lived during the Triassic period, which was before the time of the big dinosaurs like T-Rex.

Scientists believe Tanystropheus could grow quite large. Some fossils suggest it reached lengths of up to 6 meters (about 20 feet). That's as long as a small bus!

Its Amazing Neck

The neck of Tanystropheus was made of only 12 or 13 very long bones called vertebrae. In comparison, most long-necked animals, like giraffes, have many more, but shorter, neck bones. This unique structure made its neck very stiff.

Because its neck was so stiff, Tanystropheus probably couldn't bend it much. It might have held its neck out straight most of the time. This long, rigid neck helped it hunt for food in a special way.

Where Did Tanystropheus Live?

Scientists think Tanystropheus spent most of its life in the water. It was likely an aquatic or semi-aquatic animal. Its long neck would have been perfect for fishing. It could stand in shallow water or swim, then quickly dart its head forward to catch fish or other small sea creatures.

Its teeth were small and pointed, which is good for grabbing slippery prey. Some fossils show that it ate fish and squid-like animals. This shows us it was a predator in its ancient watery home.

When Did It Live?

Tanystropheus lived during the Middle Triassic period. This was a time when life on Earth was recovering from a huge extinction event. New types of animals were appearing, including the first dinosaurs. The world was warmer then, and there were vast shallow seas.

The discovery of Tanystropheus fossils helps scientists understand what life was like millions of years ago. It shows how diverse and unique ancient reptiles could be.