Interactions

Animals that Tanystropheus longobardicus interacted with included small fish, carrion, and squid, which were apart of the organisms diet (see Nutrition). Some predators of T. longobardicus include Cymbospondylus natans, Coelophysis bauri and Postosuchus alisonae (see Reproduction). These predators also ate the eggs of T. longobardicus.

Other marine organisms that were present during the Middle and Late Triassic Era included marine fish and marine reptiles. Ichthyosaurs, meaning, “fish lizards”, were the most successful group of organisms in the Mesozoic (Benton, 2008). They were adapted for marine life with bodies that included no neck, streamlined form, paddles, and fish-like tails. The Ichthyosaurs reproduced sexually and gave birth to their offspring live (Benton, 2008). Another group of marine reptiles unique to the Triassic were the placodonts, which means “pavement teeth”. They used their unique incisors to feed on mollusks, such as oysters and shellfish and used their teeth to crush the shells (Benton, 2008).

Two groups of other long necked marine reptiles included the pachypleurosaurs and the nothosaurs. Just like T. longobardicus, these reptiles lived a marine lifestyle, only leaving the water to lay eggs on shore (Benton, 2008). The diet of the smaller pachypleurosaurs included small fish and crustaceans, while the larger nothosaurs ate ichthyosaurs and larger fishes (Benton, 2008).