Genus
Valid Extinct

Ichthyotitan

Lomax et al. 2024

Ichthyotitan is an extinct genus of giant ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian), known from the Westbury Mudstone Formation in Somerset, England. It is believed to be a shastasaurid, extending the family's range by 13 million years up to the latest Triassic. The discovery of Ichthyotitan has been considered evidence that shastasaurids were still thriving until their disappearance in the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event.

Temporal range
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleogene
Neogene
252 201 145 66 0 Ma
PBDB occurrences
1
Group
Ichtyosaures
Carnivore nektonic Marine
Ichthyotitan
click to enlarge
Comparison of the holotype (BRSMG Cg3178, A and C right surangular, BAS specimen) and referred specimen (BRSMG Cg2488, B and D left surangular, Lilstock specimen) of Ichthyotitan severnensis gen. et sp. nov. To ease comparison, A and C have been reversed. A-B. Lateral view of both surangulars showing same unique shape; note the upturned, almost 90-degree angle bend and the spatulate-shaped posterior end. C-D. Medial view of both surangulars displaying same morphology posteriorly; anteriorly the Lilstock specimen (D) has been heavily eroded and distorted along its length. Note the position of an elongated foramen on the lateral surface (A-B), identified as part of the fossa surangularis that passes through the bone into the Meckelian canal. See also the damaged (?)angular that is articulated with the surangular and defined by a continuous groove (?suture) as seen in Fig 2H. © D. R. Lomax, P. de la Salle, M. Perillo, J. Reynolds, R. Reynolds, J. F. Waldron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia
PBDB ↗ Wikipedia ↗
Classification
Ichthyosauria Unranked clade
›
Hueneosauria Unranked clade
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Merriamosauria Unranked clade
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Shastasauridae Family
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Ichthyotitan Genus
Fossil sites 1 geolocated sites
Distribution
Top countries
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
1
Geological formations
Westbury
1
Temporal distribution
Rhaetian (205.7–201.4 Ma)
1
Species (1)
Ichthyotitan severnensis 206 Ma
Images 1
Bibliography
Original description
D. R. Lomax, P. de la Salle, and M. Perillo, J. Reynolds, R. Reynolds, J. F. Waldron. 2024. The last giants: New evidence for giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaurs from the UK. PLoS One 19(4):e0300289 DOI ↗
Bibliography (1)
D. R. Lomax, P. de la Salle, and M. Perillo, J. Reynolds, R. Reynolds, J. F. Waldron. 2024. The last giants: New evidence for giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaurs from the UK. PLoS One 19(4):e0300289 DOI ↗