Stenopterygius

Stenopterygius is a smaller ichthyosaurid with length up to 3 meters. The skull is relatively shorter, with large orbits, jaws are prolonged with numerous conical teeth. The tail is transformed into the caudal fin, vertebrae enforced only the lower part of the fin. Limbs are modificated to paddle-like fins. The secondary vivipary (ovovivipary respectively) belongs to interesting evolutionary feature. The genus is known from the Lower Jurassic of Europe - i.e. 183‒179 Ma.



## Keywords
Mesozoic, Lower Jurassic, marine reptiles, ichthyosaurs