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> Shonisaurus

Shonisaurus

author: Walter B. Myers/Novapix

reference: t-din02-00200

Image Size 300 DPI: 34 * 25 cm

A massive, 30-ton Shonisaurus, the largest known ichthyosaur (marine reptile) attempts to make a meal of a school of squid-like Belemnites. On the far right is a prehistoric shark, and further below is an ancient Ammonite, another squid-like animal with a nautilus-like hard shell. 230 million years ago Panthalassa, the vast global ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea, was home to the ichthyosaurs, giant air-breathing reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins. Like modern day dolphins and whales, ichthyosaurs are believed to have evolved from land reptiles that moved back into the water. Ichthyosaurs are notable for having the largest eyes of any land or sea animal. The eye socket of one fossil Shonisaurus skull is over 3 feet in diameter.

Keywords for this photo:

AMMONITE - ANIMAL - EARTH - FAUNA - FLORA - HISTORY OF EARTH - ICHTHYOSAUR - ILLUSTRATION - JURASSIC - MESOZOIC - OCEAN - PANTHALASSA - PLANT - REPTILE - SHONISAURUS - WATER -