First appeared at the start of the Jurassic and thrived until the end of the Cretaceous Period, plesiosaurs ("close to a lizard") were successful group of carnivorous Mesozoic marine sauropterygian reptiles — reptiles, not dinosaurs — who had both long-necked (elasmosaurs) and short-necked (polycotylid) forms:

The eleven-foot-long (3.40 metres) species Plesiosaurus guilelmiimperatoris is a "true" plesiosaur that lived during the early part of the Jurassic, distinguished by its small head, long and slender neck, broad turtle-like body, a short tail and snout, but the mouth was able to open very wide, and the jaws had a series of conical teeth in gavial-like sockets. Yet it was a relatively slow swimmer, but its unique four large, elongated flippers gave it exceptional maneuverability. It would cruise lumberingly below the surface of the water, using its long flexible neck to move its head into position, and could swiftly rotate its body as an aid to snap up an unwary fish, belemnite, or cephalopod.

It had slick, smooth skin and, due to its short, useless tail, its neck was actually used rudder. However, it would have been virtually impossible for its head and long neck to lift above the surface, in the 'swan-like' pose, as gravity would simply have tipped its body forward and kept most of the heavy neck in the water.

(Damn you, DA, and your character limit, argghh!)

Medium - HB mechanical pencil.

© Diane N. Tran.