The Shonisaurus files Back

Illustrations

Species list

  • S. popularis (Camp,1976 ) type species
  • S. silberlingi (Camp,1976 )
  • S. mulleri ()

    • Name : Shonisaurus Species : popularis
    Pronounced : SHON-e-SAWR-us Pronounced : POP-u-LAR-us
    Meaning :
    "shoshone mountains reptile"     		Meaning : "populous"or "people"
    for the 'people' who helped in the establishment of the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
    Length :
    up to 15 meters (49 feet)     		Skull Length :
    2.4 - 3 meters (8 - 10 feet)     		Weight :
    20 - 35 tons
    Diet : carnivor = fish and cephalopods (ammonites, nautiloids, and belemnites) Period : Upper Triassic
    Superorder :
    		Order :
    Ichthyosauria     		Suborder :
    		Superfamily :
    		Family :
    Shastasauridae
    Discovered by:
    First bones found by miners     		When Discovered:
    1928 (some reports as early as 1869)     		Described by:
    		When described:
    Fossils found in : (Luning Formation of Nevada) Shoshone Mountain town of Berlin, Nevada (now the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park)
    Charactistics and things of interest: Some of the heavy vertebrae had been used by the miners who discovered it as dinner plates (some new take on 'bone' china!). This ichthyosaur is the state fossil of Nevada. Shonisaurus, with four powerful flippers, a dorsal fin and tail appeared somewhat dolphin like. It had thin jaws with teeth only in the front.
    Similar to: Ichthyosaur Debate and Controversy:

    © 1997-2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The "Prehistorics Illustrated" name and all original material at Prehistorics Illustrated is protected by copyright law

    		You can email me at: dinosaurs@prehistoricsillustrated.com
    Last Updated on 01/01/2008

    click here If you're lost