An ichthyosaur skull from the Late Jurassic of Svalbard

Abstract

Abstract An ichthyosaur skull discovered in the Upper Jurassic of Svalbard is described for the first time. It is mainly characterised by a relatively long snout and numerous small teeth, which are characters also found in the Late Jurassic ichthyosaur genera Brachypterygius and Aegirosaurus. On the basis of more detailed comparisons, the specimen is referred to Brachypterygius. This find extends the geographical distribution of that ichthyosaur genus, hitherto known from England, to the high latitudes of the Late Jurassic, and suggests that ichthyosaurs could withstand relatively low water temperatures.