Evidence for scavenging by the marine crocodile Metriorhynchus on the carcass of a plesiosaur

A specimen of the long-necked plesiosaur Cryptoclidus from the Oxford Clay of Peterborough bears tooth marks on its cervical vertebrae which show that is was the object of post-mortem scavenging by the marine crocodilian Metriorhynchus. This extends the behavioural range of Metriorhynchus below surface waters and shows that it was an opportunistic scavenger capable of diving to the sea floor.