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Ichthyosaurs
Click here for more Ichthyosaur Pictures
| Scientific Classification |
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Superorder |
Ichthyopterygia |
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Ichthyosaurs were large marine reptiles that lived through most of the
Mesozoic Era.
They seem to have evolved from a group of terrestrial reptiles
(a group which is still to be identified) during the early
Triassic period,
about 245 million years ago, initially looking rather like lizards with fins.
Ichthyosaurs continued to evolve during the
Triassic period,
and both dolphin-like and somewhat serpent-like forms existed, the latter sometimes
growing to huge sizes, as much as 50 feet (15 meters) in length.
By the early Jurassic period,
Ichthyosaurs had reached their peak of diversity, and a long slow decline in diversity
continued through the
Jurassic and into the
Cretaceous period.
The last Icthyosaurs finally became extinct during the middle to late
Cretaceous,
perhaps about 90 million years ago.
In outward physical form, Ichthyosaurs tend to resemble whales, dolphins or sharks. This
is a result of convergent evolution - sharks, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises),
and ichthyosaurs all evolved similar body shapes, because it is a good hydrodynamic
solution for swimming.
Fossilized ichthyosaur:
One difference between Ichthyosaurs and many other marine predators, is
that it is believed that Ichthyosaurs probably hunted by sight (rather
than for example echo-location). Part of the evidence for this is that
Ichthyosaurs generally had comparatively large eyes - one particular
genus of Ichthyosaur, namely Temnodontosaurus which lived in
Jurassic
Europe
and was about 30 feet (12 meters) long, had the largest eyes of any
known vertebrate - its eyes were 10 inches (26 centimeters) in diameter.
Another noteworthy fact about Ichthyosaurs is that at least some species,
perhaps even all species, seem to have given birth to live young. The
evidence for this is that
fossils have been found
of Ichthyosaurs containing fossils of babies within the abdomen. It has
been suggested that perhaps these babies were stomach contents and therefore
evidence of cannibalism, however it seems more likely that
these fossils show
a pregnant Ichthyosaur that died just before (or perhaps even during)
giving birth.
Fossil fragments of Ichthyosaurs have been known since at least 1699, however the
the first complete fossil specimen was found by
Mary Anning in 1811 in Lyme Regis,
England
(Mary Anning
subsequently discovered three species of Ichthyosaur).
A large number of other fossils were also found by a
1905
expedition to central
Nevada,
including a 55 foot (17 meter) Shonisaurus (a very large, late
Triassic
Ichthyosaur), which since
1977,
has been designated as
Nevada's
State Fossil.
Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that lived between 245 and 90 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Ichthyosaur Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Kate Moening
Bellwether Media
Released: January 1st, 2023
Library Binding (24 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $26.95*
Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.*
*(As of 20:01 Pacific 5 Oct 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ichthyosaurs (Ancient Marine Life)- Manufacturer: Bellwether Media
- EAN: 9798886871692
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Kate Moening
- Publication Date: January 1st, 2023
- Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Physical Description:- Size: 9.1 inches by 7.7 inches by 0.3 inches
- Weight: 0.55 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Darren Naish
Smithsonian Books
Released: February 28th, 2023
Navy Hardcover (192 pages)
 | List Price: $29.95*
Lowest New Price: $27.85*
In Stock*
*(As of 20:01 Pacific 5 Oct 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ancient Sea Reptiles: Plesiosaurs, Ichthyosaurs, Mosasaurs, and More- Manufacturer: Smithsonian Books
- ISBN: 1588347273
- EAN: 9781588347275
- PartNumber: 9781588347275
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 192
- Author: Darren Naish
- Publication Date: February 28th, 2023
- Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Physical Description:- Size: 10.24 inches by 7.9 inches by 0.76 inches
- Weight: 1.84967837818 pounds
- Color: Navy
Click here for more information |
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By David Rains Wallace
University of California Press
Released: May 14th, 2007
Hardcover (313 pages)
 | List Price: $85.00*
Lowest Used Price: $6.92*
In stock Usually ships within 3 to 4 days.*
*(As of 20:01 Pacific 5 Oct 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Neptune’s Ark: From Ichthyosaurs to Orcas- Manufacturer: University of California Press
- ISBN: 0520243226
- EAN: 9780520243224
- PartNumber: new-Nov09usbook-2017-c054157
Details:- Hardcover
- Edition: 1
- Number of Pages: 313
- Author: David Rains Wallace
- Publication Date: May 14th, 2007
- Release Date: May 14th, 2007
Physical Description:- Size: 9.4 inches by 6.5 inches by 1.0 inches
- Weight: 1.3999353637 pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By Gregory S. Paul
Princeton University Press
Released: October 18th, 2022
Hardcover (208 pages)
 | List Price: $35.00*
Lowest New Price: $25.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 20:01 Pacific 5 Oct 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles- Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
- ISBN: 0691193800
- EAN: 9780691193809
- PartNumber: 9780691193809
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 208
- Author: Gregory S. Paul
- Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
- Release Date: October 18th, 2022
Physical Description:- Size: 11.0 inches by 8.5 inches by 0.75 inches
- Weight: 2.314853751 pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By JOHNNY CHAPMAN
Independently published
Released: September 23rd, 2020
Paperback (68 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $7.14*
In Stock*
*(As of 20:01 Pacific 5 Oct 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ichthyosaur Coloring Boo- Manufacturer: Independently published
- EAN: 9798689622026
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 68
- Author: JOHNNY CHAPMAN
- Publication Date: September 23rd, 2020
- Release Date: September 23rd, 2020
Physical Description:- Size: 11.0 inches by 8.5 inches by 0.16 inches
Click here for more information |
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