Fossils show long necks of prehistoric reptiles were targeted by predators

The fossil of the larger tanystropheus fossil found reached up to 6 metres long. Photograph: Stephan Spiekman

For nearly two centuries, fossil hunters have mused that the improbably long necks of some ancient marine reptiles made them tempting targets for hungry predators.

Now, researchers have uncovered grisly evidence that sticking one’s neck out really was a deadly weakness: the remains of two creatures whose heads were snapped off in acts of Triassic violence.