So, what IS an ichthyosaurus?

[Ashley]

So, purely by coincidence, I'm reading a current (and painfully exhaustive) book about fossils (because I'm SUPER cool) and just last night came across an image for the ichthyosaurus. Well, I was so excited, having everything come together so serendipitiously.

Here's a link to wikipedia, which shows a fossil image. And gee, our dear Mary Anning is mentioned as well!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyos...

[Carol]

Pronoounced: Ik-thee-oh-SAWR-us,
Translation: Fish lizards
Description: Carnivore (fish, octopus, and other swimming animals)
Kingdom: Animalia
Order: Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia
Subclass: Diapsids
Class: Reptilia
Super Class: Tetrapods
Phylum: Chordata
Length: 6.5 ft (2m) long, Weight 200 lbs.
Period, Early Jurasic

Looks like a long nosed fish with fins.

[Lauren]

I love when seemingly unrelated things come together so nicely!

Thanks for posting - very interesting. I have to say, I was picturing something closer to a lizard rather than a dolphin ...