Cymbospondylus
Encyclopedia
Cymbospondylus was a basal early ichthyosaur
that lived between the middle and later years of the Triassic
period (240-210 million years ago). Previously, the genus was classified as a shastasaurid, however, more recent work finds it to be more basal.
and Nevada
, and the first species was named by Joseph Leidy
in 1868. It was not until the early 1900s that the first complete skeletons were discovered. Fossil vertebrae from Cymbospondylus were allegedly used as plates by Nevada's silver miners; it is now the state's official fossil.
Cymbospondylus was one of the largest ichthyosaurs, with fossils ranging from 6 to 10 m (19.7 to 32.8 ft) long. It was also one of the least fish-like of the ichthyosaurs, lacking a dorsal fin
and fluked tail. It did, however, have an elongated snout like other ichthyosaurs.
Despite its size, Cymbospondylus would not have been much of a threat to other marine reptiles, such as Nothosaurus
. The one metre long head, with large jaws, contained rows of teeth which were so small that they could not have grasped and held on to large animals, let alone kill them. Instead, the teeth appear to have been adapted for catching and holding on to small and medium-sized fish, belemnites, and cephalopod
s such as ammonite
s. The long tail would have been excellent for swimming, and allowed Cymbospondylus to move at fast speeds and efficiently hunt down shoals of swimming fish.
Adult Cymbospondylus probably spent much of their time hunting in deep offshore water, only venturing into shallower water to breed or to catch seasonally available prey. Like other ichthyosaurs, Cymbospondylus probably gave birth to live young, as it had no way to lay eggs. These, on reaching adult size, probably had few, if any, predators that could harm them.
The eel-like tail of Cymbospondylus made up almost half the total body length, and it is possible that the tail was used as a primary swimming mechanism. Like present day sea snakes, Cymbospondylus probably swam by wriggling its body from side to side. The paddle-like limbs of Cymbospondylus would primarily have been underwater stabilizers
, and for slowing down the ichthyosaur's swimming speed.
Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins...
that lived between the middle and later years of the Triassic
Triassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
period (240-210 million years ago). Previously, the genus was classified as a shastasaurid, however, more recent work finds it to be more basal.
Discovery
Fossils have been found in both GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and the first species was named by Joseph Leidy
Joseph Leidy
Joseph Leidy was an American paleontologist.Leidy was professor of anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania, and later was a professor of natural history at Swarthmore College. His book Extinct Fauna of Dakota and Nebraska contained many species not previously described and many previously...
in 1868. It was not until the early 1900s that the first complete skeletons were discovered. Fossil vertebrae from Cymbospondylus were allegedly used as plates by Nevada's silver miners; it is now the state's official fossil.
Palaeobiology
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and fluked tail. It did, however, have an elongated snout like other ichthyosaurs.
Despite its size, Cymbospondylus would not have been much of a threat to other marine reptiles, such as Nothosaurus
Nothosaurus
Nothosaurus is an extinct genus of sauropterygian reptile from the Triassic period, approximately 240-210 million years ago, with fossils being distributed from North Africa and Europe to China...
. The one metre long head, with large jaws, contained rows of teeth which were so small that they could not have grasped and held on to large animals, let alone kill them. Instead, the teeth appear to have been adapted for catching and holding on to small and medium-sized fish, belemnites, and cephalopod
Cephalopod
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda . These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot...
s such as ammonite
Ammonite
Ammonite, as a zoological or paleontological term, refers to any member of the Ammonoidea an extinct subclass within the Molluscan class Cephalopoda which are more closely related to living coleoids Ammonite, as a zoological or paleontological term, refers to any member of the Ammonoidea an extinct...
s. The long tail would have been excellent for swimming, and allowed Cymbospondylus to move at fast speeds and efficiently hunt down shoals of swimming fish.
Adult Cymbospondylus probably spent much of their time hunting in deep offshore water, only venturing into shallower water to breed or to catch seasonally available prey. Like other ichthyosaurs, Cymbospondylus probably gave birth to live young, as it had no way to lay eggs. These, on reaching adult size, probably had few, if any, predators that could harm them.
The eel-like tail of Cymbospondylus made up almost half the total body length, and it is possible that the tail was used as a primary swimming mechanism. Like present day sea snakes, Cymbospondylus probably swam by wriggling its body from side to side. The paddle-like limbs of Cymbospondylus would primarily have been underwater stabilizers
Stabilizers
The Stabilizers were an American pop/rock duo founded in the early 1980s by musicians Dave Christenson and Rich Nevens. With Christenson on lead vocals and Nevens on guitars and occasional keyboards, they spent the first few years touring the Pennsylvania area and recording original compositions on...
, and for slowing down the ichthyosaur's swimming speed.
In popular culture
- Cymbospondylus was featured in the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary, Sea Monsters, as the top predator of the Triassic, and as the sixth most dangerous sea creature of all time. - It also appeared in the BBC's The Complete Guide to Prehistoric LifeThe Complete Guide to Prehistoric LifeThe Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life is an encyclopedia featuring 111 of the prehistoric animals from the Walking With... series, as well as an additional one . It was published in 2006 by Firefly Books, and written by Tim Haines with Paul Chambers...
, where it was erroneously dubbed "The largest ichthyosaurIchthyosaurIchthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins...
of all time". The title, in fact, belongs to ShastasaurusShastasaurusShastasaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur from the middle and late Triassic, and is the largest marine reptile that has yet been found. Specimens have been reported from the United States, Canada, and China...
.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/seamonsters/factfiles/cymbospondylus.shtml
- http://www.nigelmarven.com/photo_gallery.asp?g=1&id=19