Skeleton of Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae in Geological Museum of Guizhou
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
†Ichthyosauria
Genus:
†Guizhouichthyosaurus
Species:
†G. tangae
Binomial name
†Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae
Cao & Luo, 2000 (type)
Synonyms
Cymbospondylus asiaticus Li & You, 2002
Panjiangsaurus epicharis Chen & Chang, 2003
Shastasaurus tangae (Cao & Luo, 2000)
Guizhouichthyosaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur which is known primarily from the Xiaowa Formation of the lower Carnian stage of the Late Triassic in southwest China. The type species of this genus is Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae, of which multiple skeletons are known. It has been reassigned as a species of the genus Shastasaurus in the past, though it has since been considered distinct. The ichthyosaurs Cymbospondylus asiaticus, named in 2002, and Panjiangsaurus epicharis, named in 2003, are junior synonyms of G. tangae. The genus is also known from the Ladinian-aged Middle Triassic Zhuganpo Formation; additionally, the species "Callawayia" wollongangense may belong to Guizhouichthyosaurus.
Guizhouichthyosaurus is a large ichthyosaur, typically measuring approximately 5 metres (16 ft) long with some specimens exceeding 6 metres (20 ft). The snout is long and powerful, and there is a low sagittal crest on the rear part of its skull. The tail is bent downwards near its end, the scapulae (shoulder blades) are shaped like sickles, and an opening is enclosed between each set of lower leg bones. Each limb contains a minimum of four digits. Two distinct morphotypes of Guizhouichthyosaurus are known, differentiated by skull and limb morphology, which likely represent males and females.
Guizhouichthyosaurus, like other early ichthyosaurs, would have used anguilliform (eel-like) locomotion, unlike the more efficient cod- and tuna-like swimming of later ichthyosaurs. While one specimen of Guizhouichthyosaurus contained gastroliths as stomach contents, their ingestion may have been accidental, as stomach stones are very uncommon in ichthyosaurs. Despite its small, smooth-edged teeth, Guizhouichthyosaurus is known to have been able to consume other large marine reptiles, as evidenced from a thalattosaur skeleton in the stomach region of one specimen, indicating that Guizhouichthyosaurus was an apex predator.
and 30 Related for: Guizhouichthyosaurus information
the species "Callawayia" wollongangense may belong to Guizhouichthyosaurus. Guizhouichthyosaurus is a large ichthyosaur, typically measuring approximately...
reclassified the species Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae as Shastasaurus tangae. However, later analysis showed that Guizhouichthyosaurus was in fact closer to...
monophyletic generally include Shastasaurus, Besanosaurus, Guanlingsaurus, Guizhouichthyosaurus, Shonisaurus and ‘Callawayia’ wolonggangense within the group. Shastasaurids...
bone. In addition to Shastasaurus, this clade includes Shonisaurus, Guizhouichthyosaurus, an unnamed Norian taxon from Alaska, and many other genera. Motani...
was either in a similar position or in a smaller nested group with Guizhouichthyosaurus and "Callawayia" wolonggangense. Due to this instability, Bindellini...
almost complete skeleton of Guizhouichthyosaurus from the same formation. However, considering that Guizhouichthyosaurus is similar to Shastasaurus, they...
juveniles and pregnant specimens being known; its larger contemporaries, Guizhouichthyosaurus and Guanlingsaurus, are rarer. Qianichthyosaurus was a small ichthyosaur...
Global Information
