Ichthyosaurus

Fossil of Ichthyosaurus breviceps

• England
• Belgium
• Switzerland
• Germany

• Ichthyosaurus breviceps
• Ichthyosaurus communis
• Ichthyosaurus conybeari
• Ichthyosaurus intermedius

Ichthyosaurus (Greek: ιχθυς / ichthys = " fish " and σαυρος / sauros = " lizard" ) is an extinct genus of the group of ichthyosaurs. Fossils are dated to the Early Jurassic ( Hettangian to Sinemurian ) and were in Europe ( Belgium, England, Switzerland and Germany ) have been found. It is one of the best known ichthyosaur and also the eponymous genus of this group. The holotype of Ichthyosaurus was one of the best preserved fossils of the 19th century. He was discovered by Mary Anning in England.

Joseph Victor von Scheffel's poem The Ichthyosaurus described the extinction of Cretaceous through in humorous verse. The poem has been immortalized on the ruins Hohentwiel by the sculptor Reinhard Siecke artistic.

I guess a world catastrophe;

So it can not go so longer! What will become of the Lias yet,

Description

Ichthyosaurus was smaller than other ichthyosaurs. He reached a length of just 2 m. Hundreds of well-preserved skeletons of Ichthyosaurus were found in the Jurassic rocks in wood grubs in Germany. In some bones, the joints were still flexible. Furthermore, embryos were discovered in the stomachs of some specimens, indicating that Ichthyosaurus was viviparous. Similar fossils were also found in Stenopterygius. The German findings of Ichthyosaurus, of which are known skin outline, prove that he possessed a fleshy dorsal fin and a large tail fin.

Paleobiology

The ear bones of Ichthyosaurus were solidly built, probably they were used for the transmission of vibrations from the water to the inner ear. However, in addition to the hearing and the sight was important to be able to hunt; the orbit was therefore protected by ossified " shields ". Coprolites of Ichthyosaurus prove that he fed on fish and squid.

Earlier it was believed that Ichthyosaurus took off eggs on land, but fossils prove that he was viviparous. The animals were fully adapted to aquatic life. At birth, the pups were probably born with the tail forward, to prevent drowning.

System

Ichthyosaurus was a basal representative of the Thunnosauria, a subgroup of the ichthyosaurs. When close relatives are Stenopterygius and Ophtalmosauridae which include, among others Ophthalmosaurus and Platypterygius. The following is an Beispielkladogramm by Patrick S. Druckenmiller and Erin E. Maxwell ( 2010):

Ichthyosaurus

Stenopterygius

Aegirosaurus

Ophthalmosaurus

Mollesaurus

Athabascasaurus

Brachypterygius

Arthropterygius

Caypullisaurus

Platypterygius

Maiaspondylus