"Plesiosaurs' Remarkable Adaptation: Doubling Neck-Length through Vertebrae Evolution"

Plesiosaurs, marine reptiles known for their long necks, evolved their distinctive features within a span of five million years, about 250 million years ago. A recent study introduces a new ancestor, Chusaurus xiangensis, which reveals that plesiosaurs rapidly developed their iconic long necks by adding new vertebrae. This species had 25 vertebrae, while some Late Cretaceous plesiosaurs had as many as 72, with necks five times the length of their trunks. The findings shed light on the fast rates of evolution and the varied tactics used by different species to achieve long necks.