A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions
The dolphin-like ichthyosaurs – also known as ‘fish lizards’ – are extinct marine reptiles that roamed the Mesozoic oceans for some 160 million years. As for most ancient vertebrates, our knowledge of these iconic animals largely derives from biomineralized hard parts (teeth and bones). However, soft tissues are also known from a number of Lagerstätte specimens, and have opened up new avenues for