Reptile
Ichthyosaurus communis
Ichthyosaurus communisIchthyosaurus communis navigated Early Jurassic seas with remarkable dolphin-like hydrodynamics, propelled by a crescent-shaped tail fin while stabilizing with four paddle-like limbs. Massive bony sclerotic rings reinforced its eyes, enabling deep dives into twilight waters to track swift cephalopods. Exceptional fossils from southwestern England reveal that females gave birth to live young tail-first in open water, completely severing evolutionary ties to land.
PrehistoricMarine ReptileCarnivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBelemnites, Ray-finned fish, Early cephalopods
Predators
- Temnodontosaurus
- Large pliosaurs
- Hybodont sharks
ThreatsExtinct (widespread oceanic anoxic events and ecological shifts)
HabitatsWarm epicontinental shelf seas and open ocean waters
Life spanUnknown (estimated 20–30 years)
Classification
- FamilyIchthyosauridae
- GenusIchthyosaurus
- SpeciesIchthyosaurus communis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Extinct species known only from fossilized remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil observation: Search coastal limestone and shale exposures where Jurassic fossils weather out.
- Museum exhibits: Look closely at articulated skeletons to spot carbonized body silhouettes and embryos.
Predator Ghedoghedo / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Neighbor the paleobear / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative Haplochromis / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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