Ancient reptile birth preserved in fossil: Ichthyosaur fossil may show oldest live reptilian birth
Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 13:00
in Paleontology & Archaeology
Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that evolved from land reptiles and moved to the water. Scientists report a new fossil specimen that belongs to Chaohusaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia), the oldest of Mesozoic marine reptiles that lived approximately 248 million years ago. The partial skeleton was recovered in China and may show a live birth.