The mixosaurus was a smaller ichthyosaur, with a slightly bulging body about 1 m long and weighing 20 kg. This dinosaur-fish populated the open sea and fed on fish. It is believed that it lived in the Mesozoic era, during the Middle Triassic Period, about 230-210 million years ago.
Fossil remains of this species have been discovered in Navada, Alaska, Italy, China, Canada, Indonesia and other areas. They were first studied and described by paleontologist George H. Bauer in 1889. The species was scientifically named Mixosaurus atavus in 1887 by the same paleontologist.
Interesting was the muzzle of this creature, it had jaws provided with numerous sharp teeth, perfectly adapted to grab and hold slippery fish. As a whole, the Mixosaurus was a bit like the Ichtyosaurus because it had an elongated body, but also the dolphin today.
In order to breathe and fill his lungs with air, he had to come out to the surface of the water, making numerous jumps over the waves while searching for food. The large eyes-positioned on the sides of the head – were protected by a sclerotic ring with bone plates to withstand the pressure of water from the depths.
The spine was curved in the posterior part, exactly in the area where it entered the caudal fin, this determines a special shape of this fin. Also, the caudal fin of triangular shape, which had a very small size, was positioned near this curvature.
In the middle of the spinal cord rises the dorsal fin, the trangular, which is presented in the appearance of a relatively small bony spine. The forelimbs and hindlimbs were transformed into two pectoral and two ventral fins, all of elongated shapes. The pectoral fins were larger than the ventral ones.
The mixosaurus was an exclusively aquatic animal, an excellent swimmer, very fast, which stabilized and oriented its body in a certain direction with the help of lateral and dorsal fins, and with the help of caudal fins propels itself in waves like a torpedo.
Mixosaurus Feed
The mixosaurus was a carnivorous animal that fed on fish.
