| While dinosaurs once ruled the earth, other animals ruled the seas. Take the Ichthyosaurus, a perfect example of what I'm talking about. They have a large dorsal fin, much like a dolphin. Or, actually more like a shark. |
Ichthyosaurus is a genus of ichthyosaurid marine reptile in Jurassic World Evolution 2. Originating from Early Jurassic Europe, it is among the best known members of the ichthyosaurs.
Characteristics[]
Ichthyosaurus is a small marine reptile, measuring around two meters in length – far smaller than other genera of ichthyosaurs, which can grow between 4 and up to 25 meters (i.e. Shonisaurus). Its paddle-like limbs and streamlined body allow it to move at great speed through water, catching its prey in its long, thin snout. Ichthyosaurus is a piscivore, with a diet consisting mostly of fish and squid.[1]
Gameplay[]
Along with Plesiosaurus, Ichthyosaurus is among the earliest marine reptiles to be unlocked. It is relatively cheap, easy to maintain and of middling appeal to guests.
Behaviour[]
Ichthyosaurus is a docile, non-predatory reptile. It has low space and food requirements and lives in small pods. If housed with large predators, such as Tylosaurus and Mosasaurus, it may be hunted, though its agility can allow it to evade predators in a large enough enclosure.
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Palaeontology[]
Ichthyosaurus was discovered in England in the early 19th century, specifically 1811, by celebrated English paleontologist and fossil collector Mary Anning along with her brother Joseph, when they uncovered a skeleton while digging for fossils in Lyme Regis, on the south coast of England. Like many Victorian discoveries, Ichthyosaurus became a wastebasket taxon for ichthyosaurs; with over 50 species being named by 1900. Many of these have since been moved to new genera, leaving six species of Ichthyosaurus as recognized. The remains were initially thought to be those of a crocodile – almost 200 years later, at the beginning of the 21st Century, advances in knowledge allowed Anning's find to be classified as a new genus.
Ichthyosaurus was a relatively small ichthyosauridae – with the largest species growing just over 3. 1 m (10 ft) long at maximum – and the earliest genus to develop the family's familiar fish or dolphin like shape. In comparison, the majority of Triassic ichthyosaurs had more eel like bodies. Ichthyosaurus was fully adapted to aquatic life and hunted small prey such as fish and cephalopods. Its ear bones were solid, transferring water vibrations to the inner ear and thus allowing them to locate prey. Due to their body shape, all ichthyosaurs gave birth to live young, with the babies born tail first to prevent them from drowning.
Paleoecology[]
Ichthyosaurus lived during the Early Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago, with a possible yet unconfirmed record of also living during the Triassic period. Fossils have been found mainly in Europe; including the British Isles, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. A species has also been found in Indonesia. It shared its environment with Early Jurassic plesiosaurs, such as Plesiosaurus and Attenborosaurus. It primarily fed on fish and squid, which it used its large eyes and attuned hearing to locate.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Ichthyosaurus on Wikipedia
- ↑ Ichthyosaurus. Jurassic World Evolution 2 Database. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ↑ Ichthyosaurus. Prehistoric Wildlife. Retrieved October 14, 2022.