Ophthalmosaurus

## *Ophthalmosaurus icenicus*

> *Most sea reptiles return to the land to lay eggs, but not Ophthalmosaurus, they gave birth to live young. This freeze the adults, from they need to crawl out into the water, and has allowed to evolved their fish-like shape.*
>
> Narrator, about *Ophthalmosaurus*

***Ophthalmosaurus*** (name meaning "*Eye Lizard*") is a genus of Ichthyosaur that originated during the Middle Jurassic period in what is now North America and Europe. Measuring 6 meters long and named for its extremely large eyes, this medium-sized, fish-like marine reptile possessed a dolphin-shaped body and its almost toothless jaw was well adapted for catching squid.

In the episode "*Lagoons of Death*," a pod of ten adult *Ophthalmosaurus* and several pups were surviving from predators from Late Jurassic Oxford Clay, 163 million years ago.

## Facts

### Era & Discovery

*Ophthalmosaurus* lived during the Middle to Late Jurassic period, from 165 – 145 million years ago. It was a prey item for many sea creatures, including *Hybodus*, *Metriorhynchus*, and even the giant *Liopleurodon*. *Ophthalmosaurus* was first discovered by Harry Seeley in 1874.

### Physical Attributes

*Ophthalmosaurus* had a graceful dolphin-shaped body. They measured 14 – 20 feet (4.5 – 6 m) long and weighed 1 – 2 tons (2,000 – 4,000 lbs.), very different from the eel-like shapes of earlier Ichthyosaurs, such as *Cymbospondylus*, and its almost toothless jaw was well adapted for catching squid. Nevertheless, it was a speedy pursuit predator.

*Ophthalmosaurus* was a sea reptile that had streamlined, fish-like bodies. These are the oldest of marine reptiles and were perfectly adapted to aquatic life. However, unlike adults, *Ophthalmosaurus* pups had prominent teeth. This allowed them to cope with a variety of tough prey among the coral, but Ammonite shells were too tough for them.

### Behavior & Traits

 File:4CD3FBC1-F12B-4501-B6BD-DCC9284D461E.jpg
Like many fish of the 21st century, *Ophthalmosaurus* lived in schools of hundreds of individuals. *Ophthalmosaurus* adults (males and females) were masters of hunting at night. With their enormous light-sensitive eyes, they could pick out squid in the darkest parts of the ocean. Their long toothless snouts are streamlined weapons, making it easy for them to snap up fast-moving prey.

Females came from deeper water to give birth to their offspring. While most marine reptiles swam towards land to lay eggs, *Ophthalmosaurus* instead gave birth to live young. A single female had between two to five pups, but because they were air breathers, the young had to be born tail first –– if not, they would have drowned in the time it took them to escape from their mother's womb. New-born pups only had a few seconds to reach the surface and take their first breath.

 File:MV5BNzkyNmNhZGYtODZmMy00NWRjLTgyNjEtOGEwNGE2MjMwZGEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDcxMTk4Mzc@. V1 .jpg  From the moment they were born, *Ophthalmosaurus* pups were vulnerable. The Jurassic waters were full of predators and even adult *Opthalmosaurus* ate the offspring of others to increase the chance of survival of their own pups. The only real safety was among the crags of coral. Coral reefs in the Late Jurassic seas were full of baby *Ophthalmosaurus*. Intricate network of caves was their refuge, a safe haven from which they can start to learn about their new world.

## Gallery

Dinos.jpgWWD Ophtalmosaurus 3.jpgD58CCAA8-362C-435C-AF41-FB46C1567B9A.jpg*Ophthalmosaurus* pupOphtalmosaurus4.pngImage17copy.jpg