What is Chaohusaurus?
Q: What is Chaohusaurus?
A: Chaohusaurus is an extinct genus of basal ichthyopterygian, or ichthyosaur, from the Lower Triassic of Chaohu and Yuanan, China.
Q: How is Chaohusaurus related to other ichthyosaurs?
A: Chaohusaurus was closer in time and form to Cymbospondylus and Mixosaurus than to more advanced genera like Ichthyosaurus.
Q: Did Chaohusaurus have a dolphin-like form like later ichthyosaurs?
A: No, Chaohusaurus did not have the dolphin-like form of later ichthyosaurs, but it was fully aquatic.
Q: What was the tail fin like on Chaohusaurus?
A: The tail fin is wide-based and short in Chaohusaurus.
Q: Did Chaohusaurus have a dorsal fin?
A: No, there is no dorsal fin on Chaohusaurus.
Q: How big was Chaohusaurus?
A: Chaohusaurus was one of the smallest ichthyosaurs, about 70 to 180 cm long and weighed approximately 10 kg.
Q: Did Chaohusaurus have a neck like later ichthyosaurs?
A: Yes, Chaohusaurus had a neck which was rather long, whereas later ichthyosaurs have no neck.
