2 2.2 Ichthyopterygian Paleobiology - Part 1

Now that we’ve examined some of the diversity of Ichthyosaurs let’s now investigate their paleobiology. Just like the mammals that evolved into whales and dolphins, the reptiles that returned to the sea, eventually acquired characteristics that made life in the water possible. They evolved the fish-like shape, flippers instead of feet, a mouth full of sharp teeth for capturing slippery prey, and the ability to give birth in the water. Like mammals, ichthyosaurs were air breathers, this restricted the amount of time they could spend underwater. Ichthyosaurs occupied both coastal environments and open oceans. Fossilized remains, in their stomachs tell us that they ate mostly cephalopods and fish but also supplemented their diets with turtles, smaller Ichthyosaurs, and the drowned carcasses of other animals. They had large eyes capable of seeing in deep, murky water and likely hunted primarily using their sense of sight. In the next section, we’ll explore how the fossils of Icthyosaurs have informed paleontologi