Temnodontosaurus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from "Ichthyosaurus" acutirostris)
| Temnodontosaurus Temporal range: Early Jurassic |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mounted fossil of Temnodontosaurus trigonodon, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Order: | Ichthyopterygia |
| Suborder: | Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | Temnodontosauridae |
| Genus: | Temnodontosaurus Lydekker, 1889 |
| Species | |
|
|
Temnodontosaurus was an ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic, some 198 and 185 million years ago (Hettangian - Toarcian), in Europe (England & Germany). It was a large genus, exceeded 12 meters (40 ft) in length.[1]
It is the only genus in the family temnodontosauridae.[2]
[edit] Palaeobiology
Temnodontosaurus eyes were approximately 20 cm (8 in) in diameter making them some of the largest of any known vertebrate. They were powerful swimmers with great stamina and could descend into the deepest areas in the Jurassic sea to catch their prey.
[edit] References
- ^ Maisch MW, Matzke AT. 2000. The Ichthyosauria. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie B (Geologie und Paläontologie) 298: 1-159
- ^ HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF THE CLASS EODIAPSIDA. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
 |
This Ichthyosaur-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
