Queasy plesiosaurs swam to shore to vomit, Jurassic fossils reveal
Plesiosaurs swam into river deltas to vomit up shells and other indigestible elements of their marine meals, suggests new research published by Cambridge University Press. The behavior resembles that of today's fur seals and marine crocodiles.
Plesiosaurs, the iconic long-necked marine reptiles, may have swam to shore to vomit up indigestible elements of their marine meals, according to a new study. The behavior is similar to today's fur seals and marine crocodiles. Researchers found fossilized plesiosaur vomit pellets, called regurgitalites, in shallow waters off the coast of Norway.
These pellets contained shellfish, which required specific salt levels to survive, explaining why they couldn't be found in the delta where the vomit was deposited. Dr. Dirk Knaust, the lead author of the study, suggests that plesiosaurs may have come close to shore to relax or sleep after hunting, leading to their regurgitation.
The study, published in Geological Magazine, sheds new light on the behavior of these successful sea monsters.
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