Species
Ophthalmosaurus icenicus
Ophthalmosaurus icenicusOphthalmosaurus cut through warm Jurassic seas using a streamlined, dolphin-like body propelled by a crescent tail fin for high-speed pursuit. Its colossal eyes, reinforced by robust bony sclerotic rings, measured over 20 centimeters across to capture trace bioluminescence when diving into deep, pitch-black water. Females gave birth to live young tail-first directly in open water, bypassing the need to haul out on land.
Marine ReptileDeep Diver
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBelemnites, Coleoid squid, Bony fish
Predators
- Liopleurodon ferox
- Hybodus sharks
- Pliosaurus funkei
ThreatsPrehistoric oceanographic changes and competitive faunal turnover
HabitatsTemperate to tropical open oceans and shelf seas
Life spanEstimated 25–40 years
Classification
- FamilyIchthyosauridae
- SpeciesOphthalmosaurus icenicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossil specimens; safe to observe in museum collections.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Identification: Look for disc-shaped vertebral centra and dense paddle elements in Oxford Clay deposits.
- Museum Viewing: Inspect the complete bony sclerotic eye rings displayed in mounted articulated skeletons.
Image unavailablePredator 
Neighbor Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor Laurillard / Public domain · cc0
Frequent Companion Jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Earlier Relative Gary Todd / CC0 · cc0
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