What is an ichthyosaur?
Q: What is an ichthyosaur?
A: An ichthyosaur is an extinct order of marine reptiles from the Mesozoic era.
Q: How are ichthyosaurs similar in shape to other animals?
A: Ichthyosaurs are similar in shape to dolphins and fast predatory fish like tuna, a phenomenon known as convergent evolution.
Q: When did ichthyosaurs first appear?
A: Ichthyosaurs first appeared during the earliest Triassic period.
Q: What was one of the first species of ichthyosaur to have a typical dolphin-like body shape?
A: Californosaurus was one of the first species of ichthyosaur to have a typical dolphin-like body shape.
Q: Who discovered the fossil which showed the typical form of an ichthyosaur?
A: Mary Anning and her brother Joseph discovered the fossil which showed the typical form of an ichthyosaur.
Q: Who was Mary Anning? A: Mary Anning was an early British fossil collector, dealer and paleontologist who made many important finds that can still be seen today at London's Natural History Museum.
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