"Prehistoric Marine Reptiles: How They Evolved Long Necks with Extra Vertebrae"

Scientists have discovered that ancient marine reptiles, such as plesiosaurs, rapidly evolved long necks by adding new vertebrae to their spines. Fossils from the Triassic period show that the ratio of torso length to neck length increased from 40% to 90% within approximately 5 million years. These reptiles likely developed long necks as a survival tool for hunting small fish and shrimp. The rapid evolution of long necks was likely a response to the mass extinction event known as the Great Dying, which occurred prior to the Triassic period.