Feeding Ichthyosaur

temnodontosaurus acutirostris ammonoids

ichthyosaurs carnivorous. ichthyosaurs ranged in size, , survived long, have had wide range of prey. species pointed snouts adapted grab smaller animals. mcgowan speculated forms protruding upper jaws, in eurhinosauria, have used pointy snouts slash prey, has been assumed swordfish. food, many of fish-shaped ichthyosaurs relied heavily on ancient cephalopods called belemnoidea. fed on fish. few of larger species had heavy jaws , teeth indicated fed on smaller reptiles. large triassic form thalattoarchon had large bladed teeth , macropredator, capable of killing prey own size, , himalayasaurus , several species of temnodontosaurus shared adaptations killing large prey. these food preferences have been confirmed coproliths indeed contain remains of fishes , cephalopods. confirmation provided fossilised stomach contents. buckland in 1835 described presence in specimen of large mass of partly digested fishes, recognisable scales. subsequent research in 1968 determined these belonged fish genus pholidophorus cephalopod beaks , sucker hooks present. such hard food particles apparently retained stomach , regularly regurgitated. stomach remains can contain larger animals, including small ichthyosaurs. carcasses of drowned animals eaten well: in 2003 specimen of platypterygius longmani reported having besides fishes , turtle bones of land bird in stomach.

caypullisaurus attacked crocodylomorph dakosaurus

some ichthyosaurs durophagous , had flat convex teeth adapted crushing shellfish. ate benthos floor of more shallow seas. other species perhaps suction feeders, sucking animals mouths opening relatively short jaws. first assumed shonisaurus, giant means might have secured constant food supply huge body, , in 2011 short-snouted guanlingsaurus liangae. however, in 2013 study concluded hyoid bone of ichthyosaurs, @ tongue base, insufficiently ossified support sucking movement , suggested alternative such species ram feeders, gathering food swimming forwards wide open mouth.

typical ichthyosaurs had large eyes, protected within bony ring, suggesting may have hunted @ night or @ great depths; extant animals large eyes giant , colossal squids. sight seems have been 1 of main senses employed while hunting. hearing might have been poor, given robust form of stapes. grooves in palate however, suggest smell might have been acute or electro-sensory organs might have been present.

ichthyosaurs served food other animals. during triassic natural enemies consisted of sharks , other ichthyosaurs; in jurassic these joined large plesiosauria , marine crocodylomorpha. again confirmed stomach contents: in 2009 e.g., plesiosaur specimen reported ichthyosaur embryo in gut.