When scientists talk about long-necked dinosaurs, it is natural to assume that they are referring to the Sauropods, animals such as Camarasaurus and Diplodocus, huge animals with long, necks and in many cases whip-like long tails. However, a recent discovery of a Stegosaur in Portugal demonstrates that when it came to long necks the Sauropods had one or two rivals. Along with the typical Stegosaur features of robust forelimbs, small head with a beak and the plates running along the back, this new Stegosaur genus had a much longer neck than any other Stegosaur known to science.
This new type of Stegosaur, named Miragaia longicollum (the long-necked creature from Miragaia - the village in Portugal where the fossilised bones were found), has nearly twice as many neck bones as some other members of the Stegosauridae.
[...]
This discovery will re-open the debate about bipedalism in Stegosaurs and may indicate an adaptation for browsing on taller vegetation compared to other Stegosaurs. Alternatively, a longer neck may have helped these animals reach into dense groves of cycads in order to feed.
This new type of Stegosaur, named Miragaia longicollum (the long-necked creature from Miragaia - the village in Portugal where the fossilised bones were found), has nearly twice as many neck bones as some other members of the Stegosauridae.
[...]
This discovery will re-open the debate about bipedalism in Stegosaurs and may indicate an adaptation for browsing on taller vegetation compared to other Stegosaurs. Alternatively, a longer neck may have helped these animals reach into dense groves of cycads in order to feed.
