A highly articulated Early Jurassic ichthyosaur, Stenopterygius, from the historical collection of the Jagiellonian University, Poland

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1797

Keywords:

Ichthyosauria, Stenopterygius, Posidonia Shale, Early Jurassic, taphonomy, 3D scanning

Abstract

The Posidonia Shale Formation is one of the best-known examples of fossil Konservat-Lagerstätten in the world. One of the most characteristic taxa from this formation is the genus Stenopterygius, a medium-sized thunnosaurian ichthyosaur represented by numerous specimens which are very often articulated, featuring specimens exhibiting life activities such as live-birth or with preserved soft tissues. Herein, we describe an extremely well-preserved skeleton of Stenopterygius quadriscissus CEP-DG-7264-N, housed at the Nature Education Centre of the Jagiellonian University (NEC Kraków, Poland) and its remarkable story, which ultimately led this fossil to become the centrepiece of the NEC collection. The specimen, based on analysis of observed taphonomic distortions, is inferred to have landed post-mortem rostrum first onto the seafloor, causing a snout fracture and spine distortion. Associated belemnites (preserved as rostra) have been interpreted as possible gastrointestinal content, which has probably been displaced around the individual due to the expanding volume of gas buildup.

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Published

2025-08-14

Issue

Vol. 69 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

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