Mixosaurus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iMixosaurus Fossil range: Mid Triassic
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Ichthyosauria Family: Mixosauridae Genus: Mixosaurus Species: M. atavus, M. kuhnschnyderi, M. cornalianus

Mixosaurus is an extinct genus of diapsid reptile belonging to the ichthyosaur order. It was about 1 meter (3 ft 4 in) long. Fossils of Mixosaurus, which means "Mixed Lizard" have been found all over the world - China, Timor, Indonesia, Italy, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Canada, Alaska, and Nevada. It was named in 1887 by George H. Baur.

Mixosaurus was named so because it appears to have been a transitional form between the eel-shaped icthyosaurs such as Cymbospondylus and the later dolphin-shaped icthyosaurs, such as Ichthyosaurus. Mixosaurus possessed a long tail with a low fin (suggesting it could have been a slow swimmer) but also possessed a dorsal fin for stability in the water. The paddle-like limbs were made up of five toes each, unlike the three toes found in later Icthyosaurs. Noteworthy however is that each toe has more individual bones than is usual (polyphalangy or hyperphalangy), and the front limbs are longer than the back limbs.

Mixosaurus was a Marine reptile that fed on small fish.

[edit] References

Dixon, Dougal. "The Complete Book of Dinosaurs." Hermes House, 2006.