Mixosaurus

Mixosaurus

• Europe ( Germany, Switzerland, northern Italy, France, Norway)
• Turkey
• Asia (China, Timor)
• New Zealand
• North America (Nevada, British Columbia, Alaska)

Mixosaurus ( " mixed lizard" ) is a representative of the extinct ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic. He was described in 1887 by George H. Baur. Fossils of Mixosaurus were found almost worldwide. Several hundred copies were excavated at Monte San Giorgio in Ticino, including a pregnant female, the first evidence on the viviparity of ichthyosaurs.

Mixosaurus was a transitional form between primitive ichthyosaurs with eel-like body straight as Cymbospondylus and the more modern forms that had a shape similar to today's dolphins. In this transitional character is also the name of the genus refers.

Mixosaurus was about a meter long. His cock was elongated, the spine bends do not look down from a crescent-shaped tail fin support, as in the later Jurassic ichthyosaurs. Maybe, but the tail was wearing a Flossensaum on its top. The limbs had but five toes were already much transformed into fins. The pectoral fins were longer than the pelvic fins. The front teeth were pointed and sharp, the back teeth on edge. The large eyes were surrounded by small bony plates.

Species

• M. atavus
• M. kuhnschnyderi
• M. cornalianus