| Mixosaurus | |
|---|---|
 'An artist's representation of Mixosaurus.' | |
|
Distribution |
Worldwide |
|
Classification |
Ichthyosauria, Mixosauridae |
|
Meaning of name |
Mixed lizard |
|
Named by |
Baur, 1887 |
|
Time |
Middle Triassic |
|
Size |
1 metre (3 ft) |
|
Lifestyle |
Fish-hunter |
|
Species |
M. avatus, M. callywayi, M. cornalianus, M. kuhnschnyderi, M. panxianensis, M. xindianensis, M. yangjuanensis' |
Mixosaurus was an ichthyosaur which lived in different locations around the world. It lived during the middle Triassic.
Description[]
In appearance Mixosaurus seems intermediary between the eel-like forms typified by Cymbospondylus, and the more familiar dolphin-shaped forms such as the late Ichthyosaurus, hence the name. The long tail with its low fin suggests that it was a slow swimmer, moving forward by undulation of the tail.
Features[]
The body and tail are long, with the tail having a low fin that is not as well-developed as the shark-like fin of the late types, and there is a stabilizing dorsal fin on the back. The paddle-like fins are still made up of five toes each, unlike the muliti-toed structure found in later ichthyosaurs. However, each toe has more individual bones than is usual (polyphalangy) and the front limbs are longer than the rear.