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Ichthyosauria [a] is an order of large extinct marine reptiles sometimes referred to as "ichthyosaurs", although the term is also used for wider clades in which the order resides. Ichthyosaurians thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared around 250 million years ago ( Ma ) and at least one species ...
Shastasauridae is an extinct family of ichthyosaurs from the Late Triassic with a possible Early Jurassic record. [1] The family contains the largest known species of ichthyosaurs, which include some of and possibly the largest known marine reptiles .
Ichthyosauridae is an extinct family of thunnosaur ichthyosaurs from the latest Triassic and Early Jurassic (Rhaetian to Pliensbachian stages) of Europe, and possibly also from the middle Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian or Barremian stage) of Iraq.
Some marine reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, metriorhynchid thalattosuchians, and mosasaurs became so well adapted to a marine lifestyle that they were incapable of venturing onto land and gave birth in the water. Others, such as sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles, return to shore to lay their eggs.
Experts estimate that the giant creature would have been more than 25 metres long.
Scientists said this ichthyosaur lived 205 million years ago and dominated the oceans just as dinosaurs were becoming masters on land.
By comparison, S. sikanniensis was one of the largest known ichthyosaurs, similar in size to modern-day cetaceans, measuring up to 21 metres (69 ft) in length and weighing 81.5 metric tons (89.8 short tons). [7] Shastasaurus was highly specialized, and differed considerably from other ichthyosaurs. It was very slender in profile.
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