Ophthalmosaurus

Ophthalmosaurus
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic (Callovian to Oxfordian), 165–157 Ma Possible record during the Berriasian
Composite skeleton (NHMUK PV R3702, R3893, R4124) of Ophthalmosaurus icenicus at the Natural History Museum, London, with the forelimbs mounted backwards[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: †Ichthyosauria
Family: †Ophthalmosauridae
Subfamily: †Ophthalmosaurinae
Genus: †Ophthalmosaurus
Seeley 1874
Type species
†Ophthalmosaurus icenicus
Species
Synonyms
  • Ancanamunia Rusconi 1942
  • Khudiakovia Arkhangelsky 1999

Ophthalmosaurus (Greek ὀφθάλμος ophthalmos 'eye' and σαῦρος sauros 'lizard') is a genus of ichthyosaur known from the Middle-Late Jurassic. Possible remains from the earliest Cretaceous, around 145 million years ago, are also known. It was a relatively medium-sized ichthyosaur, measuring 4 m (13 ft) long and weighing 940 kg (2,070 lb).[2][3] Named for its extremely large eyes, it had a jaw containing many small but robust teeth. Major fossil finds of this genus have been recorded in Europe with a second species possibly being found in North America.

  1. ^ Moon, B. C.; Kirton, A. M. (2016). "Ichthyosaurs of the British Middle and Upper Jurassic. Part 1, Ophthalmosaurus". Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society. 170 (647): 1–84. Bibcode:2016MPalS.170....1M. doi:10.1080/02693445.2016.11963958. hdl:1983/983f82bf-a391-4cbc-b313-1fc754017eef. S2CID 133288616.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Motanietal1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Motani2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).