Paleontologists have discovered a new look Eurhinosaurus – The genus of the European long -resistant ichthyosaurus, characterized by his wonderful snack – in Bavaria, Southern Germany.
“ICHTHYOSAURIA is a diverse group of reptiles adapted to the sea life, which flourished from the early trias to the early late chalk,” said Dr. Gael Speech, a researcher at the Yurassiki Museum, Freiborg University and his colleagues.
“Ichthyosaurs demonstrate morphological features, such as limbs modified into fins, elongated muzzles, deep amphic vertebrae and the development of the tail fin, which shows that they were fully adapted to water life.”
“Ichthyosaurs had cosmopolitan distribution throughout their entire existence.”
“In particular, Southern Germany is known for its vast reports on fossil ichthyosaurs from the lower Jurassic period, mainly the formation of Posidonienschiefer, which gave thousands of samples.”
“Among these lower Jurassic ichtiosaurs, Eurhinosaurus It is a relatively rare component of the fauna, ”they said.
“His paleogeographic distribution is limited by the fact that today in Europe, with fossil evidence from Germany, Great Britain, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland.”
“This kind is known for its distinguishing elongated and slender face with an extreme bite, having a lower jaw, sharply shorter than the upper jaw (more than 60%).”
Recently described Eurhinosaurus Types share lengthening of the upper jaw typical of its kind.
Named EURHINOSAURUS MISTELGAUensisHe lived in the Jurassic period, about 180 million years ago.
Three samples of a new species were found in clay pit Mistelgau, part of the formation of Jurensismler south -west of Bayreut in Northern Bavaria, Germany.
“The fossils include two almost complete skeletons and partial muzzle, preserved three-dimensional in a semi-articulated state, with elements exhibited in several orientations,” the paleontologists said.
“Their preservation is exceptional, representing bones in three dimensions, which is extremely rare and emphasizes the importance of describing samples.”
According to the authors, these samples are the youngest stratigraphic appearance Eurhinosaurus genus.
“These well -preserved fossils from MistelGau give valuable information about Eurhinosaurus Morphology and significantly contribute to our understanding of this historically important ichthyosaurus, ”they concluded.
A Conclusions were published this week in the journal Record of the fossilField
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GE Spicher and othersField 2025. New Eurhinosaurus (ICHTHYOSAURIA) VIDS from Lower Yura (Toarcian) Mistelgau (Bavaria, Southern Germany). Record of the fossil 28 (2): 249-291; Doi: 10.3897 / Fr.28.154203
