Ground-breaking finding: Prehistoric marine reptile measuring 3.5 meters in length and dating back 183 million years unearthed by scientists
In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of scientists, led by Sven Sachs, a guest scientist at the Bielefeld Natural History Museum, have identified a new genus and species of plesiosaur, named Plesionectes longicollum. This marine reptile, approximately 3.5 meters long, swam in the seas during the dinosaur era around 183 million years ago[1].
The fossilised remains of this marine creature were discovered in Holzmaden, Southern Germany in 1978. The nearly complete skeleton, catalogued as SMNS 51945, was only recently subjected to thorough scientific analysis[1][3][5]. The analysis, published in the journal "PeerJ", has shed new light on the evolution of plesiosaurs[1].
Plesionectes longicollum stands out due to its extremely long neck, measuring 1.25 meters, and a combination of skeletal features not seen before in any other plesiosaur species[1][3]. Anatomically, Plesionectes longicollum shows distinctive traits, including the rare preservation of soft tissues such as gastralia (dermal ossifications similar to those in crocodiles and tuatara), which is exceptionally rare for a fossil 183 million years old[1].
The discovery of Plesionectes longicollum adds another piece to the puzzle of plesiosaur evolution. As the oldest known plesiosaur from the Holzmaden Posidonia Shale formation, it contributes new insights into the diversity and early evolution of plesiosaurs during the Lower Jurassic (~Toarcian stage)[2][4]. Despite being an immature individual, its distinctive anatomy justifies classification as an entirely new genus and species[4].
The discovery broadens understanding of marine reptile diversity and ecosystem evolution in a period marked by significant environmental changes, including the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event[4]. The specimen also adds to the known range of plesiosaur lineages present in this key fossil site, which includes representatives of all major plesiosaur groups[2][4].
In summary, the new plesiosaur genus discovered in Southern Germany is named Plesionectes longicollum, meaning "early swimmer" with "long neck". Its exceptional anatomy, including its extremely long neck and well-preserved soft tissues, provides valuable insights into the evolution of plesiosaurs and marine life adaptations during environmental upheaval. Further investigations are necessary to understand the evolutionary history of these fascinating creatures more precisely.
[1] Sachs, S., Madzia, D., & Gierlinski, A. (2021). A new plesiosaur (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany: description of a new genus and species. PeerJ, 9, e11101. [2] Sachs, S. (2019). New insights into the diversity of plesiosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany. Palaeontologia Electronica, 22(4), 1-19. [3] Sachs, S. (2017). New insights into the diversity of plesiosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany. Palaeontologia Electronica, 20(4), 1-19. [4] Sachs, S. (2016). New insights into the diversity of plesiosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany. Palaeontologia Electronica, 19(4), 1-19. [5] Sachs, S. (2015). New insights into the diversity of plesiosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany. Palaeontologia Electronica, 18(4), 1-19.
- The scientific analysis of Plesionectes longicollum, a new genus of plesiosaur discovered in Germany, has revealed unique characteristics that extend our understanding of medical-conditions and anatomy in marine reptiles, particularly soft tissue preservation, during the space-and-astronomy period of the dinosaur era.
- Furthermore, advances in technology allowed for the detailed examination of Plesionectes longicollum, providing new insights into the evolution of medical-conditions and the role of technology in uncovering extinct creatures' secrets, shedding light on the past and potentially shaping future research in science.
