Fact Check: Plesiosaurs had swan neck posture or it is lethal for the animals

Fact Check: "Plesiosaurs had swan neck posture or it is lethal for the animals"

What We Know

Plesiosaurs, a group of marine reptiles that thrived during the Mesozoic era, are often depicted with long, swan-like necks. Recent studies have provided insights into the actual mobility and posture of these creatures. According to a study on the Jurassic plesiosaur Cryptoclidus eurymerus, the neck mobility was limited, with maximum angles of lateral deflection at only 67° and ventral and dorsal deflections at 148° and 157°, respectively, suggesting that the long neck did not allow for the extreme flexibility often associated with a swan-like posture (Wintrich et al.).

Moreover, the Plesiosaur Directory notes that plesiosaur necks lacked the extreme flexibility necessary for rapid striking motions like those of some modern reptiles, indicating that they could not adopt the swan-like pose commonly depicted in artwork (Plesiosaur Directory).

The evolutionary purpose of the long neck remains a topic of debate. Some hypotheses suggest that it may have served for stealthy approaches to prey, while others propose that it was advantageous for hydrodynamic efficiency (Wintrich et al., Plesiosaur Directory).

Analysis

The claim that plesiosaurs had a "swan neck posture" is misleading. While plesiosaurs did possess long necks, the evidence indicates that their necks were not as flexible as a swan's. The finite element analysis conducted by Wintrich et al. demonstrates that the neck's range of motion was limited, contradicting the notion of a swan-like posture (Wintrich et al.). Furthermore, the Plesiosaur Directory reinforces this by stating that plesiosaur necks were only moderately flexible and could not achieve the extreme poses often depicted in illustrations (Plesiosaur Directory).

Regarding the assertion that such a neck posture could be "lethal for the animals," this claim lacks direct evidence in the literature. The studies reviewed do not support the idea that the neck's structure or posture would lead to lethal consequences for plesiosaurs. Instead, the limitations in neck mobility may have provided advantages in hunting strategies rather than posing a lethal risk.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, with the first being a peer-reviewed study published in PeerJ, which employs advanced modeling techniques to assess neck mobility (Wintrich et al.). The Plesiosaur Directory is a specialized resource focusing on plesiosaur biology, which adds to its reliability (Plesiosaur Directory).

Conclusion

The claim that "plesiosaurs had swan neck posture or it is lethal for the animals" is Partially True. While plesiosaurs did have long necks, the evidence indicates that these necks were not capable of the extreme flexibility associated with swan-like postures. Additionally, there is no substantial evidence to support the idea that their neck structure posed a lethal risk. Instead, the long neck likely served functional purposes in their aquatic environment.