In Depth Sumpalla ia a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in the waters around South America during the late Jurassic. The holotype fossil of Sumpalla was originally assigned to the Aegirosaurus genus, before being re-described in 2021. Further reading - Morphological disparity in the evolution of the ophthalmosaurid forefin: new clues from the Upper Jurassic … 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 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
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 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 (Ichthyosauria) from the Upper Jurassic of Durango, North Mexico. - Journal of South American Earth Sciences. - J. I. Barrientos-Lara, J. … 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 9(1):e84709. - V. Fischer, N. Bardet, M. … Read more
In Depth Athabascasaurus is a member of the Platypterygiinae, a wide ranging group of ichthyosaurs that were active in both hemispheres. Other similar ichthyosaurs include Sveltonectes, Aegirosaurus, Platypterygius and Caypullisaurus amongst others. Further Reading – A new Lower Cretaceous (lower Albian) ichthyosaur genus from the Clearwater Formation, Alberta, Canada. – Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences … Read more