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
In Depth        Although named in†‬1999,†‬Mollesaurus got declared as a synonym to Ophthalmosaurus in the following year by a review of the Ophthalmosaurus genus by palaeontologists Michael W.†‬Maisch and Andreas T.†‬Matzke in†‬2000.†‬This conclusion remained for about ten years until†‬2010†‬when a further study by Patrick S.†‬Druckenmiller and Erin … Read more
In Depth        Although very small by ichthyosaur standards,†‬Mixosaurus is one of the most important entries in the fossil record regarding the evolution of the ichthyosaur group of marine reptiles.†‬This is because it is seen as a transitory form between what are termed the eel-like primitive forms like Cymbospondylus and dolphin-like advanced ichthyosaurs like … Read more
In Depth        Parrassaurus is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in waters around Mexico during the late Jurassic. Further reading -†‬A new Tithonian ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from Coahuila in northeastern Mexico.†‬-†‬Alcheringa:†‬An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology..†‬-†‬Jair Israel Barrientos†& ‬Jes�s Alvarado-Ortega†‬-†‬2021.
In Depth        Originally described as a species of Ophthalmosaurus†(‬O.†‬chrisorumâ€) ‬a†‬2010†‬study saw the specimens elevated to the level of a distinct genus of ichthyosaur.†‬Arthropterygius was also considered to be similar to Caypullisaurus,†‬but not all researchers have followed this and instead treat Arthropterygius as a basal†(‬primitiveâ€) ‬member of the Ophthalmosauridae.†… Read more
In Depth        Acuetzpalin is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in waters around what is now central America during the late Jurassic. Further Reading -†‬Acuetzpalin carranzai gen et sp.†‬nov.†‬A new ophthalmosauridae†(‬Ichthyosauriaâ€) ‬from the Upper Jurassic of Durango,†‬North Mexico.†‬-†‬Journal of South American Earth Sciences.†‬-†‬J.†‬I.†‬Barrientos-Lara,†‬J.†… Read more
In Depth        Nannopterygius was first described in†‬1871†‬by John Hulke,†‬but as a species of Ichthyosaurus,†‬I.†‬enthekiodon.†‬However,†‬the Ichthyosaurus genus was once treated as a wastebasket taxon,†‬and many former species of Ichthyosaurus have now been re-assigned as distinct genera.†‬This is what happened later in the early twentieth century when another … Read more
In Depth        Originally named as a species of Icthyosaurus by Wagner in†‬1853,†‬Aegirosaurus was raised as a distinct genus by Bardet†& ‬Fernandez some one hundred and forty-seven years later.†‬This is in part down to the wastebasket taxon effect,†‬a common practice in the nineteenth century that saw similar prehistoric animals grouped together … Read more
In Depth        Sisteronia is a genus of ophtahlmosaurid ichthyosaur that lived in European seas during the end of the early Cretaceous to perhaps into the early part of the late Cretaceous. Further Reading -†‬High diversity in Cretaceous ichthyosaurs from Europe prior to their extinction.†‬-†‬PLoS ONE†‬9â€(‬1â€)‬:e84709.†‬-†‬V.†‬Fischer,†‬N.†‬Bardet,†‬M.†… Read more
In Depth        Originally discovered in†‬1951,†‬the holotype fossil of Wahlisaurus was not officially described until sixty-five years later in†‬2016.†‬Wahlisaurus is a leptonectid ichthyosaur noted for having a very long snout.†‬Other ichthyosaurs similar to Wahlisaurus include Leptonectes,†‬Eurhinosaurus and Excalibosaurus. Further Reading -†‬A new leptonectid ichthyosaur from the Lower Jurassic†(‬Hettangianâ€) … Read more