Ophthalmosaurus
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 930–950 kg (2,050–2,090 lb). 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.
| Ophthalmosaurus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic (Callovian to Oxfordian), Possible record during the Berriasian | |
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| O. icenicus skeleton at the Natural History Museum, London, with the forelimbs mounted backwards | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | †Ophthalmosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Ophthalmosaurinae |
| Genus: | †Ophthalmosaurus Seeley 1874 |
| Type species | |
| †Ophthalmosaurus icenicus | |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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