Merriam (1902) described it as a new species of Shastasaurus, S. perrini.[2] He later recognized the species as generically distinct from the Shastasaurus type species, erecting Delphinosaurus for S. perrini. However, Delphinosaurus had been previously used for an ophthalmosaurid from Albian-Cenomanian deposits in European Russia, and Kuhn (1934) provided the generic replacement name Californosaurus. Merriam (1938) independently erected Perrinosaurus to replace Delphinosaurus, but this is a junior objective synonym.[3][4]
The long-snouted head is small in comparison with the rest of the body, as in basal ichthyosaurs such as Mixosaurus and Cymbospondylus.[5] The tail is sharply turned downwards, in common with more advanced ichthyosaurs, with a small vertical fluke. It may have had a small dorsal fin. There is a small number of pre-sacral vertebrae (45 or 50). The phalanges (digit bones) are circular and widely spaced, giving the flipper a round appearance. It was a small ichthyosaur, measuring up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long and weighing 100 kg (220 lb).[6][7]
Biologyedit
It fed on fish and other small marine creatures. Like other ichthyosaurs it probably never ventured onto dry land, and gave birth in the water.
^von Huene, Friedrich (1916). "Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Ichthyosaurier im deutschen Muschelkalk". Palaeontographica (in German). Tübingen. 62: 1–68.
^Merriam, J. C. (1902). "Triassic Ichthyopterygia from California and Nevada". Bulletin of the Department of Geology of the University of California. 3 (4): 63–108.
^Hilton, R. P., 2003, Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles of California: University of California Press, 318pp.
^Kuhn, O., 1934. Ichthyosauria: Fossilium Catalogous, 1: Animalia, p. 1-75.
^M. W. Maisch. (2010). Phylogeny, systematics, and origin of the Ichthyosauria - the state of the art. Palaeodiversity 3:151-214
^Michael W. Maisch and Andreas T. Matzke (2000). (PDF). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde: Serie B. 298: 1–159. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18.
^Paul, Gregory S. (2022). The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles. Princeton University Press. p. 139. ISBN9780691193809.
External linksedit
Palaeos Vertebrates
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californosaurus, california, lizard, extinct, genus, ichthyosaur, extinct, marine, reptile, from, lower, hosselkus, limestone, carnian, late, triassic, california, also, muschelkalk, ladinian, middle, triassic, germany, temporal, range, preꞒ, middle, late, tri. Californosaurus California lizard is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur an extinct marine reptile from the Lower Hosselkus Limestone Carnian Late Triassic of California and also the Muschelkalk Ladinian Middle Triassic of Germany 1 CalifornosaurusTemporal range 237 210 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Middle Late TriassicHolotype skeletonScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass SauropsidaSubclass DiapsidaOrder IchthyopterygiaSuborder MerriamosauriaFamily CalifornosauridaeGenus CalifornosaurusKuhn 1934Binomial name Californosaurus perriniKuhn 1934SynonymsShastasaurus perrini Merriam 1902 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Biology 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy edit nbsp Size comparisonMerriam 1902 described it as a new species of Shastasaurus S perrini 2 He later recognized the species as generically distinct from the Shastasaurus type species erecting Delphinosaurus for S perrini However Delphinosaurus had been previously used for an ophthalmosaurid from Albian Cenomanian deposits in European Russia and Kuhn 1934 provided the generic replacement name Californosaurus Merriam 1938 independently erected Perrinosaurus to replace Delphinosaurus but this is a junior objective synonym 3 4 Description edit nbsp Life reconstruction nbsp Scapula from Germany that was previously allied with aff DelphinosaurusThe long snouted head is small in comparison with the rest of the body as in basal ichthyosaurs such as Mixosaurus and Cymbospondylus 5 The tail is sharply turned downwards in common with more advanced ichthyosaurs with a small vertical fluke It may have had a small dorsal fin There is a small number of pre sacral vertebrae 45 or 50 The phalanges digit bones are circular and widely spaced giving the flipper a round appearance It was a small ichthyosaur measuring up to 3 m 9 8 ft long and weighing 100 kg 220 lb 6 7 Biology editIt fed on fish and other small marine creatures Like other ichthyosaurs it probably never ventured onto dry land and gave birth in the water See also editList of ichthyosaurs Timeline of ichthyosaur researchReferences edit von Huene Friedrich 1916 Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Ichthyosaurier im deutschen Muschelkalk Palaeontographica in German Tubingen 62 1 68 Merriam J C 1902 Triassic Ichthyopterygia from California and Nevada Bulletin of the Department of Geology of the University of California 3 4 63 108 Hilton R P 2003 Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles of California University of California Press 318pp Kuhn O 1934 Ichthyosauria Fossilium Catalogous 1 Animalia p 1 75 M W Maisch 2010 Phylogeny systematics and origin of the Ichthyosauria the state of the art Palaeodiversity 3 151 214 Michael W Maisch and Andreas T Matzke 2000 The Ichthyosauria PDF Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde Serie B 298 1 159 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 18 Paul Gregory S 2022 The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles Princeton University Press p 139 ISBN 9780691193809 External links editPalaeos Vertebrates Ichthyosaurus nbsp This Ichthyosaur related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a Triassic reptile is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Californosaurus amp oldid 1168276883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
