Pre-historic long-necked reptiles were decapitated by their predators – study

The species had unique necks composed of 13 extremely elongated vertebrae and strut-like ribs.

Pre-historic long-necked reptiles were decapitated by their predators – study (Roc Olive/Institut Catala de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont/FECYT/PA)

Long-necked reptiles that lived at the same time as dinosaurs may have been decapitated by predators, fossil evidence suggests.

While the marine creatures’ extremely long necks may have been an evolutionary strategy, palaeontologists long suspected that their long-necked bodies made them vulnerable to predators.