Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6445291 Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 2012 9 Pages PDF
Abstract
This paper describes a new ichthyosaur specimen from the Stonebarrow Marls Member (Charmouth Mudstone Formation) of Charmouth, Dorset. It is substantially complete and various characters of the skull (snout ratios and basioccipital morphology) and appendicular skeleton (the number of digits on the hind paddle, which can be used to infer the number of digits on the front paddle) indicate that the specimen is referable to Ichthyosaurus communis. This provides the first direct evidence for the presence of I. communis in the Pliensbachian, extending the stratigraphic range of the species. The specimen also preserves a probable gullet content, which demonstrates that fish formed part of the diet of this individual.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Geology
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