In Depth An evaluation of a species of Stenopterygius, S. hauffianus, yielded two things. One, many of the remains of this species could actually be attributed to the Stenopterygius type species, S. quadriscissus. Two, remains that differed from these other fossils were of a new and previously un-described genus of ichthyosaur, hence the re-description and … Read more
In Depth Parvinatator is a little known Triassic age ichthyosaur from British Columbia. The primitive form of Parvinatator reveals that it was similar to other primitive forms such as Utatsusaurus. Further Reading Further reading- A new ichthyosaur from the Triassic Sulphur Mountain formation of British Columbia. by E. Nicholls & D. Brinkman. – In, Vertebrate … Read more
In Depth Originally assigned as a species of Platypterygius, Kyhytysuka is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in waters around South America during the Early Cretaceous. Kyhytysuka is loosely described as a hyper carnivore, and this is because of many observations that can be made for the skull and teeth. In Kyhytysuka the teeth are … Read more
In Depth Cetarthrosaurus is a little known and often considered dubious genus of ichthyosaur that is only known from fragmentary post cranial remains. Still, Cetarthrosaurus is identified as a thunnosaurian ichthyosaur that was hunting in the waters around what would become England around the boundary of the early and late Cretaceous. Fossil remains of ichthyosaurs … Read more
In Depth Barracudasauroides was named from fossils that were originally attributed to Mixosaurus as M. panxianensis. Barracudasauroides itself represents a transitional ichthyosaur similar to Mixosaurus which is seen as a link between primitive and advanced ichthyosaurs. Since its naming Barracudasauroides is sometimes confused with another ichthyosaur that is named Barracudasaurus that is also from the … Read more
In Depth Described in 1997, Caypullisaurus is classed as a member of the Platypterygiinae ichthyosaurs, with related genera including Aegirosaurus, Athabascasaurus, Platypterygius and Sveltonectes amongst others. Further Reading – A new Ichthyosaur from the Tithonian (Late Jurassic) of the Neuquen Basin, Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. – Journal of Paleontology 71(3):479-484. – M. S. Fern�ndez – 1997. … Read more
In Depth Sveltonectes is a member of the Platypterygiinae ichthyosaurs due to is resemblance to others of this group such as Platyptergius. This group is nested within the Ophthalmosauridae which is typified by the genus Ophthalmosaurus. Sveltonectes stands out from its relatives for its even more streamlined, lightweight build, as well as possessing differently formed … Read more
In Depth Leptonectes is the type genus of Leptopterygiidae group of ichthyosaurs that had specialised upper jaws that protruded beyond the end of the lower jaw. This group of ichthyosaurs are sometimes envisioned using these snouts to stir up sediment on the sea floor to find buried prey, however because their jaws resemble those of … Read more
In Depth Brachypterygius initially started out as a species of Ichthyosaurus, I. extremus, but in 1922 palaeontologist Friedrich von Huene renamed the species as a distinct genus. This is actually a reflection of how the Ichthyosaurus genus was once used as a wastebasket taxon with almost any ichthyosaur remains being referred to it upon the … Read more
In Depth Undorosaurus is a genus of ichthyosaur which lived in the late Jurassic seas of what is now Russia. For a time Undorosaurus was speculated to be synonymous with Ophthalmosaurus, but today Undorosaurus is regarded by all to be a distinct genus, though one that is related to Ophthalmosaurus. Further Reading - A new … Read more