[en] A complete ichthyosaur rostrum, with 124 associated teeth, was recently discovered in Laux-Montaux locality, department of Drôme, southeastern France. The associated belemnites and ammonites indicate a late Valanginian age (Neocomites peregrinus Zone, Olcostephanus nicklesi Subzone) for this fossil, which consequently represents the first diagnostic ichthyosaur ever reported from Valanginian strata. This specimen also represents the first occurrence of Aegirosaurus outside the Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) lithographic limestones of Bavaria (southern Germany). Tooth morphology and wear pattern suggest that Aegirosaurus belonged to the “Pierce II/ Generalist” feeding guild, which was hitherto not represented in post-Liassic ichthyosaurs. Most Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs actually crossed the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary.
Research Center/Unit :
Service de paléontologie animale et humaine
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography Zoology
Author, co-author :
Fischer, Valentin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Paléontologie animale et humaine
Clément, Arnaud
Guiomar, Myette; Réserve naturelle géologique de Haute-Provence
Godefroit, Pascal; Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique > Vertebrate Palaeontology
Language :
English
Title :
The first definite record of a Valanginian ichthyosaur and its implications on the evolution of post-Liassic Ichthyosauria
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