Fossil ichthyosaur
Place Collected(Object)
: Europe, Germany, Baden-Wurttemberg, Holzmaden Dimensions:length=640; width=150; height=5 cm
Taxonomy
- Attributes
- Objects
- Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
- Phylum:
Chordata
- Class:
Reptilia
- Order:
Ichthyopterygia
- Suborder:
Merriamosauriformes
- Family:
Leptonectidae
- Genus:
Eurhinosaurus
- SpecificEpithet:
longirostris
Object number: ROMVP55094
Credit Line: Gift of the Louise Hawley Stone Charitable TrustJ
Gallery Location:James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs, Life in the Sea Jurassica, Jurassic Ichthyosaurs, Eurhinosaurus
DescriptionEurhinosaurus had a greatly extended upper jaw, like a modern swordfish, and a short lower jaw. The body of this specimen came to rest on the sea bed in an upright position and was flattened when it was buried. Compare this specimen with the obvious dolphin shape of Stenopterygius, above, which was flattened in side view. Other fossils of Eurhinosaurus, preserved on their sides, show that its body shape was similar to that of Stenopterygius. The orientation of a fossil can affect our interpretation of its appearance in life.
