i CHTHYOSAURUS
“fish lizard”
Ichthyosaurus communis
The Ichthyosaurus, known for its dolphin-like
DIET
appearance, was a marine reptile that lived during
the Mesozoic Era. It had a streamlined body with a
long snout, sharp teeth, and a powerful tail for
swimming. Ichthyosaurus had large eyes adapted for
low light conditions, allowing it to hunt effectively in
the deep ocean waters. "Ichthyosaur" means "fish
lizard," while "Ichthyopterygia" means "fish paddle."
DIET
Time Period: Triassic (250–201 million years ago) until
Late Cretaceous (99–66 million years ago) Paleontologists have found fossilized remains of
ICHTHYOSAURUS
food matter within the stomach cavities of
ichthyosaurs and have also discovered coprolites
SIZE Up to 20 feet (6.1 meters)
(fossilized excrement or feces). They fed from:
SPEED 22 mph (35 km/h)
KEY STRENGTH Speed and Agility in the water
BIGGEST WEAKNESS Vulnerable on Land; Need to Surface for Air
FAMILY Ichthyosauridae
Squid Marine
HABITAT Marine Fish Invertebrates
GEOGRAPHY Worldwide oceans during the Jurassic period
LIFESPAN 20 years - 30 years
REPRODUCTION NATURAL PREDATORS
Rare fossils have been found Despite being a swift marine hunter, Ichthyosaurus
that show ichthyosaurs
faced threats from larger predators in Jurassic seas.
actually giving birth to live,
Their biggest advantage was likely their agility—few
well-developed young; they
never had to leave the water predators could match its acceleration!
to lay eggs, unlike most
reptiles. It makes them one
of the few marine reptiles
exhibiting viviparity. In fact,
The earliest ichthyosaurs had long, flexible bodies
from their streamlined,
and probably swam by undulating, like living eels.
fishlike bodies, it seems More advanced ichthyosaurs — like the one
almost certain that shown above, on display at the Senckenberg
ichthyosaurs could not leave Museum in Frankfurt, Germany—had compact,
the water. Yet they still very fishlike bodies with crescent-shaped tails. Pliosaurus Liopleurodon Temnodontosaurus
breathed air and lacked gills, The shape of these ichthyosaurs is like that of
living tunas and mackerels, which are the fastest Evidence: Fossil bite marks on ichthyosaur bones match pliosaur
like modern whales. teeth. Larger species may have preyed for smaller ones.
fish in the ocean.
Defense Strategies
HABITAT Speed: Escaped predators with bursts of ~40 km/h.
Deep Diving: Used large eyes to hunt in darker, safer
They thrived in a variety of
depths.
ocean environments. Fossil
evidence suggests it Were Ichthyosaurus aggressive?
adapted to multiple habitats, Ichthyosaurs were not inherently aggressive towards
each offering distinct other creatures. However, they may have displayed
challenges and prey territorial behavior or aggression when defending their
Fun Fact: Fossil evidence suggests opportunities: territory or competing for resources such as food and
Coastal Shallow Seas mates.
that Ichthyosaurus was a highly How did Ichthyosaurus defend themselves?
Open Ocean (Pelagic Zone)
migratory species, with remains They used a combination of physical adaptations and
Deep-Water Trenches
found in various locations across behavioral strategies to defend themselves against
Polar Seas
Europe and even as far as North Coral Reefs & Atolls potential threats.
America.
