Thread by @GKountourides

Scientists have long denied the possibility of the Loch Ness Monster existing. But research from @UniofBath has some new and exciting findings that may change the way we see this. A thread 🧵
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
#LochNessMonster

🐊 The most likely candidate for a 'Nessie' would be a Plesiosaur.
🦕 🚫Plesiosaurs are NOT dinosaurs but a group of marine reptiles. Reptiles that lived in the sea
🌊 While most lived in the sea, some were found in low salt water
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The lochs in Scotland are freshwater

💀 Plesiosaurs went extinct about 100 million years ago
🌏While they were alive, they could be found on every continent & they lived in diverse habitats
🤏One group of Plesiosaurs were the Leptocleididae, with small heads and short necks

🇲🇦Moroccan researchers (sadly not named in the article) found fossils in the Tafilalt, the largest oasis in Morocco, famous for lots of fossils.
🔎Researchers from @UniofBath examined these remains
🦷Features of the teeth led the researchers to believe that they are leptocleidids

🦴Features of the humerus (bone between shoulder and elbow) suggest that it came from a young Leptocleididae
🪖Tooth wear & tear suggest that these reptiles spent time in the river. The markings are similar to those found on Spinosaurus teeth, who fed on armoured freshwater fish

🐋In the past, fossils of these animals found in freshwater areas have been put down to lost reptiles, like whales-making their way into rivers and dying
🦄The authors suggest there may be a group of Leptocleididae that were adapted for shallow water rivers/lakes

What about Nessie? Well, if this was possible in Morocco, we can't rule out some 'marine'/non marine reptiles exploiting the habitat of the lochs. But we do need to find fossils
For more read this excellent blog by one of the authors @NickLongrich
nicklongrich.com/blog/what-were…

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