Study reveals key to long life: stones and shells

Australian scientists have discovered why ancient plesiosaurs, those long-necked creatures that supposedly resemble the Loch Ness monster, lived for so long: they had a varied diet.

The fossilised remains of a 6m (20ft) plesiosaur found in Queensland in 1995 revealed remnants of the last meal it ate, 110m years ago. An 18cm dropping in the lower intestine contained snails, clam shells and 35 stones, but just one piece of fish.

Colin McHenry, from the University of Newcastle, north of Sydney, says the stones crushed the shells, suggesting plesiosaurs preferred food tougher than fish.