The Plesiosaur’s Neck – Review

From the minds of Dr Smith, natural history curator,

Jonathan Emmett and Adam Larkum, noted book illustrator,

Comes a kids’ paperback on a beast of times past,

With sharp teeth and four fins, with which to swim fast,

But that’s noted by most, and I’m sure you’ll agree,

For a neck quite staggeringly extraordinary;

Indeed, the book posits many strange hypotheses

On the cervical anatomy of Albertonectes.

Our dinosaur friends do of course get a mention,

And although it’s brief, one can see the intention –

For while the cartoons have a kiddy appeal,

They are solidly rooted in science that’s real.

Our protagonist is Poppy, 12 metres in length,

And it’s clear that her neck was her greatest strength,

But we’re asked to wonder – what was it for?

Did she use it to scoop troughs in the sea floor,

Could her neck help her sneak up on fishy prey,

Or attract a fine mate with a stunning display?

Perhaps – and to some, this can hardly seem real –

She could shock lizard foes, like an electric eel?

Some ideas you’ll know, and some you might not,

But even for adults, it’s all food for thought.

It’s explained succinctly and it may be for kids

But it’ll pique the interest of all in elasmosaurids.

This unusual little book on an ancient sea beast

Blows most others way, to say the very least.

In a market that’s full of the slapdash and shoddy,

I’ll endorse The Plesiosaur’s Neck with every bone in my body.

 

…And that does include, if I may say so, by ‘eck,

The pathetic seven vertebrae that make up my neck.