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Eurhinosaurus Mistelgauensis: New Ichthyosaur Species Described From Bavaria

The Mistelgau fossils extend the genus' record into the Upper Toarcian.

Overview

  • An international team led by Gaël Spicher formally described the species in the open-access journal Fossil Record.
  • The material comprises two nearly complete skeletons and a partial snout recovered from the Mistelgau clay pit in Upper Franconia.
  • Exceptional three-dimensional preservation enabled detailed anatomical study of the specimens.
  • The diagnosis cites notably robust ribs and distinctive features at the skull–neck joint, including differences in the basioccipital.
  • The Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken excavated and curated the fossils since 1998, with further analyses of preserved injuries in preparation.