The first known neonate Ichthyosaurus communis skeleton: a rediscovered specimen from the Lower Jurassic, UK

Dean R. Lomax*, Nigel R. Larkin, Ian Boomer, Steven Dey, Philip Copestake

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
403 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Numerous specimens of Ichthyosaurus are known, but only very few small examples (total length of <1 m) have been assigned beyond Ichthyosaurus sp. Here, we report on a very small specimen (preflexural length of 560 mm) that can be unequivocally assigned to Ichthyosaurus communis due to possessing a unique combination of diagnostic skull and postcranial characters that are found in larger examples of the species. Furthermore, the specimen is identified as a neonate because of the small size, large sclerotic ring relative to the orbital region, and poorly ossified (highly cancellous) bones of the skull and postcranium. It is not an embryo as it is not preserved within an adult specimen and stomach contents are clearly evident. This is therefore the first neonate Ichthyosaurus communis skeleton to be described. The specimen, in the Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, has no provenance data associated with it. A microfossil analysis of the matrix in which the ichthyosaur skeleton is preserved strongly suggests a stratigraphic range of uppermost Hettangian to lowermost Sinemurian age (Lower Jurassic), but does not provide any geographical information.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)600-609
Number of pages10
JournalHistorical Biology A Journal of Paleobiology
Volume31
Issue number5
Early online date3 Oct 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 May 2019

Keywords

  • Ichthyosaurus
  • Ichthyosauria
  • microfossil
  • neonate
  • Lower Jurassic
  • United Kingdom

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The first known neonate Ichthyosaurus communis skeleton: a rediscovered specimen from the Lower Jurassic, UK'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this