Scientific Name：Ichthyosaurus sp.

Category：Fossil

Year：Early Jurassic Period (about 190 million years ago)

Size:Length:64.8 x Width:114.3 (cm)

Introduction：Ichthyosaurs (Greek for "fish lizard") were extinct marine reptiles. Fossils have been found in China, England, Germany, Switzerland and other areas in Europe. Due to the vast amount of fossils found, the Ichthyosaur is a commonly known fossilized ancient organism. It thrived mainly during the early Jurassic period and survived until the Cretaceous. Ichthyosaurs had a wide range of distribution and existed for a relatively long period of a billion years. The first complete Ichthyosaur fossil was found in England in the early 1800s.

Ichthyosaurs averaged 2 to 4 meters in length, which differs according to the species; however, in general their bodies were streamlined, tuna-like fusiform. Their diet consisted of fish and octopuses. They had large, round eyes protected by exceptionally well-developed scleral rings, which helped them see well in darker water and at night, particularly useful when hunting. They had fin-like limbs. Their forelimbs were broad and possibly used for stabilization and directional control.

Although Ichthyosaurs looked like fish and dolphins, they were neither fish nor dinosaurs. The earliest Ichthyosaurs were terrestrial reptiles, eventually returning to the ocean over the course of its evolution, developing into what looks more like a fish than a reptile. Early on scientists surmised that Ichthyosaurs laid eggs on land, but eventually they found mothers with fetuses inside, meaning that it was viviparous and completely adapted to the aquatic life cycle.

Accession Number:0011467