Ichthyosaurus (SciiFii)

Ichthyosaurus pacificus (name meaning "Pacific fish lizard") is a species of ichthyosaur that originally lived from the late Triassic and early Jurassic, Rhaetian to Pliensbachian, of Europe and Asia as several extinct species of Ichthyosaurus and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and, unlike most Mesozoic-type marine reptiles, has been intentionally introduced throughout the modern world's oceans to help boost biodiversity. The genus Ichthyosaurus is among the best known ichthyosaur genera, as it is the type genus of the order Ichthyosauria. Ichthyosaurus pacificus is smaller than many of its relatives, with individuals measuring up to 3.3 metres (11 feet) in length. The ear bones of Ichthyosaurus pacificus are solid, being able to transfer water vibrations to the inner ear. Even so, Ichthyosaurus pacificus is a visually-oriented predator; it has huge, sensitive eyes, protected by bony shields. Ichthyosaurus pacificus is a carnivore, and its diet consists primarily of fish and squid, although it is known to occasionally feed on crustaceans to supplement its diet. Like the distantly-related Ophthalmosaurus boggii, Ichthyosaurus pacificus is able to hunt well in low light conditions, even in the darkest of night, although it is primarily active during the day. Like dolphins, Ichthyosaurus pacificus is a playful species and is often seen playing chase with members of their species as well as other ichthyosaur, plesiosaur, and toothed whale species. Like all other ichthyosaurs, Ichthyosaurus pacificus does not lay eggs on land, due to being fully aquatic. Instead, the females gave birth to live young, similarly to some terrestrial lizards and snakes. The babies are born tail first to prevent them from drowning in the water. The litter sizes usually ranges from two to eleven pups, although the female Ichthyosaurus pacificus can rarely give birth to as many as fifteen pups. Unlike (most) cetaceans, Ichthyosaurus pacificus do not suffer much, if any stress in captivity and adapts well to captive life, making it a suitable replacement for most cetaceans in marine parks. As a playful species, Ichthyosaurus pacificus in captivity are often given large balls and sticks to keep them occupied and not bored, although they are not as intelligent as cetaceans such as dolphins, and, as such, are less likely to get bored and don't participate in training or repeat tricks as dolphins do. The conservation status of Ichthyosaurus pacificus is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the animal's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities. 
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii