A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions
(2022) In Earth-Science Reviews 226.- Abstract
The dolphin-like ichthyosaurs – also known as ‘fish lizards’ – are extinct marine reptiles that roamed the Mesozoic oceans for some 160 million years. As for most ancient vertebrates, our knowledge of these iconic animals largely derives from biomineralized hard parts (teeth and bones). However, soft tissues are also known from a number of Lagerstätte specimens, and have opened up new avenues for deciphering their biology and ecology. Herein, we present a review of ichthyosaur research and life style iconography with particular focus on soft-tissue structures and inferences made from these, including aspects of coloration and thermoregulation. We then distill novel insights on ichthyosaur anatomy and physiology gained from an... (More)
The dolphin-like ichthyosaurs – also known as ‘fish lizards’ – are extinct marine reptiles that roamed the Mesozoic oceans for some 160 million years. As for most ancient vertebrates, our knowledge of these iconic animals largely derives from biomineralized hard parts (teeth and bones). However, soft tissues are also known from a number of Lagerstätte specimens, and have opened up new avenues for deciphering their biology and ecology. Herein, we present a review of ichthyosaur research and life style iconography with particular focus on soft-tissue structures and inferences made from these, including aspects of coloration and thermoregulation. We then distill novel insights on ichthyosaur anatomy and physiology gained from an exceptionally preserved, sub-adult specimen of the parvipelvian Stenopterygius from the Jurassic Posidonia Shale in Germany, and describe the process in which a detailed, three-dimensional reconstruction in scale 1:1 was produced. Our new sculpture is based on empirical evidence obtained directly from the fossil record, including uniquely preserved soft-tissue structures (e.g., original pigments and blubber), resulting in the scientifically most up-to-date reconstruction of an ichthyosaur currently available.
(Less)
- author
- Eriksson, Mats E. LU ; De La Garza, Randolph LU ; Horn, Esben and Lindgren, Johan LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Exceptional preservation, Ichthyosaurs, Reconstructions, Soft-tissue preservation, Stenopterygius
- in
- Earth-Science Reviews
- volume
- 226
- article number
- 103965
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85124581021
- ISSN
- 0012-8252
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965
- project
- Preservation and fossilization of reptile skin and other soft tissue structures in marine and lacustrine environments
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Funding Information: A grant to MEE from the Crafoord Foundation ( #GEFNE 143-15 ) funded the sculptural reconstruction of Stenopterygius sp., which, in turn, was largely based on the study by Lindgren et al. (2018) funded to JL by the Swedish Research Council (grant #642-2014-3773 ). Thanks to Rolf Hauff for guiding JL and RDG at Urweltmusuem Hauff, Peter Sjövall and Anders Lindskog for data acquisition and compilation of Fig. 3 H, and to everyone at 10 Tons involved in the sculpting process. This manuscript was improved by comments from two anonymous reviewers. Publisher Copyright: © 2022
- id
- 9f6ef7ce-79a9-49b4-a54c-7a984ffa7b99
- date added to LUP
- 2022-02-23 11:57:40
- date last changed
- 2022-04-26 05:38:03
@article{9f6ef7ce-79a9-49b4-a54c-7a984ffa7b99,
abstract = {{<p>The dolphin-like ichthyosaurs – also known as ‘fish lizards’ – are extinct marine reptiles that roamed the Mesozoic oceans for some 160 million years. As for most ancient vertebrates, our knowledge of these iconic animals largely derives from biomineralized hard parts (teeth and bones). However, soft tissues are also known from a number of Lagerstätte specimens, and have opened up new avenues for deciphering their biology and ecology. Herein, we present a review of ichthyosaur research and life style iconography with particular focus on soft-tissue structures and inferences made from these, including aspects of coloration and thermoregulation. We then distill novel insights on ichthyosaur anatomy and physiology gained from an exceptionally preserved, sub-adult specimen of the parvipelvian Stenopterygius from the Jurassic Posidonia Shale in Germany, and describe the process in which a detailed, three-dimensional reconstruction in scale 1:1 was produced. Our new sculpture is based on empirical evidence obtained directly from the fossil record, including uniquely preserved soft-tissue structures (e.g., original pigments and blubber), resulting in the scientifically most up-to-date reconstruction of an ichthyosaur currently available.</p>}},
author = {{Eriksson, Mats E. and De La Garza, Randolph and Horn, Esben and Lindgren, Johan}},
issn = {{0012-8252}},
keywords = {{Exceptional preservation; Ichthyosaurs; Reconstructions; Soft-tissue preservation; Stenopterygius}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Earth-Science Reviews}},
title = {{A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965}},
volume = {{226}},
year = {{2022}},
}