Remains of ancient ichthyosaur ancestor found: this is a new species of unusual size

In a new paper published in the journal PeerJ, researchers from China and Canada report a new large early

ichthyosauromorph named Baisesaurus robustus. His remains were found in southwest China. The discovery expands the known geographic distribution of early ichthyosauromorphs.

In 2017, Geological Survey field crewsGuizhou discovered vertebrate bones in limestone rocks in the Zhebao region of Guangxi Province in southwest China. Experts confirmed that the fossil belonged to a marine reptile, possibly related to ichthyosaurs.

The remains found include the front part of a skeleton.torso, including several vertebrae and ribs, limb bones, and abdominal bones. This made classification difficult, but in the new study, scientists comprehensively compared the fossil to other Early Triassic marine reptiles and ultimately identified it as an ichthyosauromorph.

Overall, Baisesaurus robustus has more in commonwith Utatsusaurus from Japan, another early ichthyosauromorph, than with other marine reptiles. The researchers also found some unusual features not seen in other early ichthyosauromorphs, such as deep depressions on the sides of the vertebrae and a robust radius with two separate articular facets for contact with the carpal bones. These features indicate that the fossil belongs to a previously unknown species, which the researchers named Baisesaurus robustus. Moreover, the length of Baysesaurus is estimated to be approximately 3 m, making this newly discovered marine reptile significantly larger than any other Early Triassic ichthyosauromorph from China.

Ichthyosaurs are a group of Mesozoic marine reptiles.whose remains are found all over the world. Their evolutionary origin still remains unclear. However, in recent years, scientists have found many new marine reptiles related to ichthyosaurs in Early Triassic rocks. We are talking about early ichthyosauromorphs, whose study helped scientists learn more about the origin of ichthyosaurs.

Their remains have been found in many countries, butmost early ichthyosauromorphs come from China, including Cartorhynchus, Chaohusaurus, and several members of the ichthyosauromorph subgroup, Hupehsuchia. They are generally small (about 1 m in length) and originate from eastern and central China.

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