Ichthyosaurs Essay

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Geo 202 Ichthyosaurs Ichthyosaurs, the Greek word for fish lizard, were a marine animal far from what its name implies. They played the role of what whales, seals, and dolphins play in today’s marine ecosystem. From fossil records, geologists can tell a lot about the life ichthyosaurs lived throughout the years it roamed the seas, including their body structure, how they reproduced, what they ate, where they lived, and much more including their extinction. Based on fossil evidence, the ichthyosaur first appeared around 245 million years ago. Although earlier forms had a sleek, lizard like body, most had a body structure that most resembled modern day mammals (Perkins). Extensive fossil examination suggests that ichthyosaurs did not evolve from fish, but in fact evolved from land-dwelling animals. Their previous stocky legs morphed into flippers and a tail and fins appeared not long after. Their transformation from lizard-like to fish-like ensured dominance in the water (Motani). Recent studies suggest ichthyosaurs “were warm-blooded (in other words, they were endothermic), giving them a considerable advantage to swim fast over long distances and to conquer cold regions” (CNRS). Despite the fact they breathed air, ichthyosaurs could swim long distances in only one breath due to their “tuna like” speed and are said to have traveled at a speed of 1 meter per second. It is also suggested, that because they did breathe air, ichthyosaurs adapted a swimming style called porpoising, which, like marine mammals of today, is leaping out of the water and simultaneously taking a breath of air ensuring high speed while chasing prey (Perkins). Breathing air is not the only characteristic they shared with today’s marine mammals, they also gave birth to live young. "Determining sex with genetic mechanisms allowed marine reptiles to give live birth, in the water, as opposed to

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