Name:
Ichthyosaurus (Greek for "fish lizard"); pronounced ICK-thee-oh-SORE-us
Habitat:
Oceans
Historical Period:
Jurassic (208-144 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 6 feet long and 200 pounds
Diet:
Fish
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Streamlined body; pointed snout; fishlike tail
About Ichthyosaurus:
You might be forgiven for mistaking Ichthyosaurus for the Jurassic equivalent of a bluefin tuna: this ichthyosaur ("fish lizard") had an amazingly fishlike shape, with a streamlined body, a finlike structure on its back, and a hydrodynamic, two-pronged tail.
One odd feature of Ichthyosaurus is that it had thick, massive ear bones, which might have conveyed subtle vibrations in the surrounding water to the reptile's inner ear (most likely, this adaptation aided in hunting for fish).
Because some fossils of Ichthyosaurus have been found with tinier, baby fossils nestled inside, it's believed that this reptile (and ichthyosaurs in general) didn't lay eggs, but gave birth to live young.
