Re: Tanystropheus

["M.Alan Kazlev" <akazlev@kheper.auz.com>]

archosaur@usa.net wrote:

> > > Dwight.Stewart@VLSI.com wrote:
>
> > > Then of course their is the ever so strange Tanystropheus and
>
> > > Keichousaurs.
>
> > > Have to wonder how they positioned those necks and how they kept
> the blood
>
> > > flow going.
>
> > >
>
> > > All these questions.
>
> >       ########################################
>
> >
>
> >       You've picked two fascinating creatures there! :-)  Has it
> ever been
> decided if Tanystropheus is a kind of primitive Euryapsid or not?
>
> ================================================
> =====================================================
>
> Last I heard, Tanystropheus is classified as an archosauromorph.
>

a member of the Prolacertiformes at that.
Tany has its own page at
http://home.stlnet.com/~azero/tany.html

part of David Petres' excellent Pterosaur Home Page
http://home.stlnet.com/~azero/Pterosaur_Homepage.htm

> ==========================================================
>
> It DOES have a LONGGG neck!  I know next to nothing about
> the Keichousaurus, except that it was found in Triassic starita in
> > China.  I assume it had a long neck too?
>
> Dwight
>
> =====================================================
> =====================================================
>
> Keichousaurus had a neck that consisted of some 20+ cervical
> vertebrae. Other
> than that and it's location, I haven't been able to find much on these
> guys.
>
> They seem to be very popular with fossil dealers, which is sad to
> note.

sure is...  :-(

> The theories surrounding that neck seem to state that these lizards
> were
> aquatic and, who knows, maybe even precursors to plesiosaurs in
> lifestyle.

the neck vertebrae count does not indicate a plesiosaur-like lifestyle.

> >From what I've seen of the skeletons, they look like their forelimbs
> were
> longer than the hindlimbs, which would have given that neck more
> support if it
> were fishing on a shore.
>
> Another interesting thing to note is that while Keichousaurus had some
> 20 or
> so cervics, Tanystropheus had around 10. Have to wonder why an animal
> with
> such a long neck, would have such an inflexible one.

in contrast plesiosaurs increase dthe number of neck vertebrae as the
group evolved.  A rigid neck would make more sense if the animal stood
on the shore a stream or a lagoon and used it's neck to grab at prey.

>
>
> Archosaur J
>
> Jurassosaurus's Reptipage: A page devoted to the study of the reptilia
>
> http://members.tripod.com/~jurassosauridae/index.html
>
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--
Kewl!   :-)

M.Alan

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