Stenopterygius quadriscissus

This nearly complete skeleton is that of a young ichthyosaur belonging to the genus Stenopterygius. It was discovered in Germany in the Holzmaden deposit which is renowned for exceptional preservation.

Traces of skin are preserved in this specimen: the fine black layer surrounding the skeleton outlines the animal’s contours. It reveals the presence of purely fleshy elements that otherwise would never have been deduced from the skeleton alone: a dorsal fin and an upper lobe on the tail fin, giving it a half-moon shape.

Specimen prepared by B. Hauff in 1909.