Giant Predator Decapitated in One Single Bite by a Deadlier Creature in the Ancient Seas

A colossal predator from 240 million years ago met its demise through a ferocious bite by a more formidable creature. The victim, a member of the Tanystropheus hydroides species, had its neck violently severed during the assault.

Tanystropheus hydroides was a marine reptile capable of reaching lengths up to 19.5 feet (6 meters). As an ambush predator, it preyed on fish and squid within a tropical lagoon that existed during the Middle Triassic period, spanning from 247 to 237 million years ago.

Fossil Analysis Shows Clear Signs of a Severed Neck

In a study, titled "Decapitation in the long-necked reptile Tanystropheus (Archosauromorpha, Tanystropheidae)" published in Current Biology, researchers examined the unique neck structures of two Tanystropheus species, reptiles from the Triassic period distantly related to crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs.

According to the news release via EurekAlert!, these species had remarkably elongated necks consisting of 13 vertebrae and rigid ribs, suggesting they were ambush predators. However, the researchers discovered evidence of predation on these reptiles' long necks, with bite marks and severed necks in fossil specimens.

The study provides rare and gruesome evidence of predator-prey interactions dating back over 240 million years. The findings confirm that the long necks of Tanystropheus were vulnerable to attacks, as depicted in a famous painting from 1830.

Prior to this research, no concrete evidence of decapitation or targeted attacks on the necks of long-necked marine reptiles had been found in the extensive fossil record.

The researchers, Stephan Spiekman and Eudald Mujal, examined the specimens at the Paleontological Museum of the University of Zurich. They identified two species of Tanystropheus that coexisted in the same environment, with the smaller species likely feeding on soft-shelled animals and the larger species consuming fish and squid. The preserved heads and necks of the specimens showed clear signs of violent severing.

The undisturbed condition of the skulls and necks indicates that the reptiles' remains were covered by soft tissues like muscle and skin when they were buried, suggesting that predators focused on the meatier parts of the body rather than the slender necks.

The researchers concluded that both individuals were decapitated during the hunt rather than being scavenged. The findings emphasize the unique evolutionary structure of Tanystropheus' necks, distinct from those of other long-necked marine reptiles, and highlight the success and trade-offs associated with the evolution of elongated necks over a span of 175 million years.

Possible Suspects of Biting the Necks

Spiekman and his team were left pondering which creature could have killed the 20-foot-long Tanystropheus ambush predator. As per Live Science, the team examined the distance between the tooth punctures on the decapitated reptile's neck to compare the bite size with that of large predators known to inhabit the area during that period. This analysis led them to create a list of potential suspects.

Among the suspects are Cymbospondylus buchseri, an early ichthyosaur that could reach up to 18 feet in length, and Nothosaurus giganteus, an enormous reptile that grew up to 23 feet long. The third possibility is Helveticosaurus zollingeri, a 12-foot-long predator characterized by powerful forelimbs, a flexible tail, and a strong, toothy snout.

Despite the vulnerability of Tanystropheus' long necks, the researchers found that reptiles persisted with such neck structures for approximately 175 million years, indicating their importance during the Triassic period.

Spiekman suggests that the small heads and long necks of Tanystropheus would have aided in ambushing prey, as the head would be difficult to spot in water with low visibility. Additionally, by staying in shallow waters, Tanystropheus may have been able to avoid encounters with larger predators most of the time.

Check out more news and information on Paleontology in Science Times.