The large number of remains relating to Ophthalmosaurus has not only indicated that it was a common ichthyosaur of the late Jurassic, but they have formed the basis to a lot of research about ichthyosaurs in general. Perhaps one of the most important areas is that concerning live birth in marine reptiles, something which has been proven in … Read more
In Depth Gengasaurus is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in European waters during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - The first ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic of the Umbrian-Marchean Apennines (Marche, Central Italy). - Geological Magazine 154(4):837-858. - I. Paparella, E. E. Maxwell, A. Cipriani, S. Roncace & M. W. Caldwell - 2017.
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 The first specimen of Acamptonectes was discovered in 1958 from the Speeton Clay Formation, but was never officially described. A second specimen from this formation was recovered in 1985. Early interpretations of Acamptonectes led to the conclusion that it was similar to Platypterygius, but a new discovery from Germany in 2003 was found … Read more