Stenopterygius
Period of life:
183–179 mya
Period:
Habitat:
Marine environment
Taxonomy:
Marine reptiles
Height:
1.5 m
Countries:
Stenopterygius
(183–179 mya)
Stenopterygius is a small 3-metre ichthyosaur which inhabited Europe salt-water basins 183-179 million years ago. The name means "narrow fin". Their diet included fish and mussels.
The Stenopterygius looked similar to sharks and dolphins, had a beaked skull and jaws packed with sharp teeth. Limbs which over time evolved into fins, one caudal and the other dorsal triangle. David Martill in 1987 questioned the existence of a dorsal diving organ.
One of the earliest recovered Stenopterygius fossils had a fin like imprint on its back. Martill assumed the imprint to be simply a torn skin flap. As the reptile had hind limbs, the scientist stated that the dinosaur used hind limbs, instead of a dorsal fin as a rudder.
Being a viviparous reptile, it delivered its offspring into the water and, like cetaceans, a tail came first for spawns did not drown.
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INTERESTING FACTS
PUZZLES
HOME
3D MODEL "SKIN"
3D MODEL "MUSCLES"
3D MODEL "SKELETON"
VISION
NEIGHBORS
VOICE ACTING
AR - MODE
GALLERY
HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES
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