ichthyosaur
noun
ich·thyo·saur
| \ ˈik-thē-ə-ˌsȯr
\
\
Definition of ichthyosaur
: any of an order (Ichthyosauria) of extinct marine reptiles of the Mesozoic specialized for aquatic life by a streamlined body with a long snout, limbs reduced to small fins for steering, and a large lunate caudal fin
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Other Words from ichthyosaur
ichthyosaurian
\ ˌik-thē-ə-ˈsȯr-ē-ən
\
adjective or noun
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adjective or noun
Examples of ichthyosaur in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, thanks to modern medical technology, the ichthyosaur of Warwickshire is finally getting its due. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Modern Tech Solved the Mystery Behind This Ancient Reptile's Skull," 9 Jan. 2019 Rarely preserved in ichthyosaurs, the braincase allows for scientists to better understand how the animals functioned. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Modern Tech Solved the Mystery Behind This Ancient Reptile's Skull," 9 Jan. 2019 But the Warwickshire skull's excellent preservation means that scientists are still learning new things about the ichthyosaur lived. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Modern Tech Solved the Mystery Behind This Ancient Reptile's Skull," 9 Jan. 2019 Highlights include the Lufengosaurus huenei, the first dinosaur found in China, the 85-foot-long Mamenchisaurus jingyanensis, pterosaurs, and ichthyosaurs—aquatic reptiles that dominated the oceans. — Ginny Mohler, Smithsonian, "Ten Chinese Museums Where You Can See a Dinosaur Fossil Up Close," 18 Apr. 2018 According to a press release, the researchers dated the bones to 205 million years ago, and estimate that in life the Lilstock ichthyosaur would have been up to 85 feet long, edging well into blue whale territory. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "This Ancient Reptile Was One of the Most Massive Creatures That Ever Lived," 10 Apr. 2018 In water, the laws of hydrodynamics explain the sleek, tapered body shape shared by the shark (a fish), the dolphin (a mammal) and the extinct ichthyosaur reptile, which plied the Mesozoic oceans. — Charles S. Cockell, WSJ, "The Limits of Extra-Terrestrial Freakiness," 7 June 2018 Fossils of ichthyosaur—extinct carnivorous marine reptiles—are not uncommon. — Julissa Treviño, Smithsonian, "Fossilized ‘Sea Monster’ Found Pregnant With Eight Babies," 10 Apr. 2018 The fossilized remains belonged to a ichthyosaur that lived between 200 and 190 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period. — Julissa Treviño, Smithsonian, "Fossilized ‘Sea Monster’ Found Pregnant With Eight Babies," 10 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ichthyosaur.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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