Tanystrophaeus

Tanystropheus (Greek: τανυ~ 'long' + στροφευς 'hinged') is an extinct genus of 6-meter-long (20 ft) archosauromorph reptile from the Middle and Late Triassic epochs. It is recognisable by its extremely elongated neck, which measured 3 m (9.8 ft) long—longer than its body and tail combined. The neck was composed of 12–13 extremely elongated vertebrae. With its very long but relatively stiff neck, Tanystropheus has been often proposed and reconstructed as an aquatic or semi-aquatic reptile, an interpretation supported by the fact that the creature is most commonly found in semi-aquatic fossil sites where known terrestrial reptile remains are scarce. Complete skeletons are common in the Besano Formation at Monte San Giorgio in Italy and Switzerland; other fossils have been found throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, dating from the Middle Triassic (Anisian and Ladinian stages) to the early part of the Late Triassic (earliest Carnian stage).