Paraophthalmosaurus
Paraophthalmosaurus was a fast-swimming marine reptile that lived in the Late Jurassic seas. It looked a bit like a dolphin but was actually an ichthyosaur, not a dinosaur. It had a long snout and big eyes to hunt fish and squid.12
When did it live?
How big was it?
How long was it?
How big was Paraophthalmosaurus compared to YOU?
Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
How fast was it?
Fun facts
Paraophthalmosaurus lived during the Tithonian age of the Late Jurassic, about 149 to 143 million years ago.1
Its name means 'near Ophthalmosaurus' because it was thought to be closely related to that other ichthyosaur.1
Scientists now think Paraophthalmosaurus might actually be the same as another ichthyosaur called Nannopterygius.2
The first fossils of Paraophthalmosaurus were found in a brick factory spoil heap in Gornyi, Russia.11
It had a femur (thigh bone) with three separate facets, which is a special feature that helps identify it.1
Like all ichthyosaurs, Paraophthalmosaurus gave birth to live young instead of laying eggs.1
Most asked questions about Paraophthalmosaurus
?How big was Paraophthalmosaurus?
About 3.5 metres (11 feet) long. It was small for an ichthyosaur.3
?Was Paraophthalmosaurus a dinosaur?
No, it was an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that lived in the sea, not a dinosaur.5
?How fast could Paraophthalmosaurus swim?
It was a fast swimmer over short distances, but not efficient for long-distance swimming. It likely ambushed prey in shallow seas.3
Ask Rex about Paraophthalmosaurus
Rex only answers questions about this page. 10 questions a month.
Rex is an AI and can make mistakes. He runs on servers in the EU and questions are never saved. Never type your name or other personal things.
Myth buster
Myth: Paraophthalmosaurus is a dinosaur.
Truth: It is not a dinosaur. It is an ichthyosaur, a group of marine reptiles that lived in the sea.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Paraophthalmosaurus
- Named by
- Arkhangelsky 19975
- Group
- Ichthyosaurs
- Family / clade
- Ophthalmosauridae5
- Classification
- Ichthyosauria > Ichthyosauromorpha5
- Age of the rocks
- 149 to 143 million years (Tithonian)5
- Countries
- Russia5
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database5
- Discovery
- Paraophthalmosaurus was named by Russian paleontologist Arkhangelsky in 1997. The fossils were found in a brick factory spoil heap near Gornyi, Russia.1
- Still debated
- Scientists are still debating whether Paraophthalmosaurus is a valid genus or if it should be considered a synonym of Nannopterygius.2
Where the facts come from
- PBDB Taxon (paleobiodb.org)
- Revision of Nannopterygius (Ichthyosauria: Ophthalmosauridae): reappraisal of the ‘inaccessible’ holotype resolves a taxonomic tangle and reveals an obscure ophthalmosaurid lineage with a wide distribution | Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society | Oxford Academic (academic.oup.com)
- Nannopterygius (en.wikipedia.org)
- Ophthalmosauridae): reappraisal of the ‘inaccessible’ holotype resolves a taxonomic tangle and reveals an obscure ophthalmosaurid lineage with a wide (paleosamara.ru)
- Paraophthalmosaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at hello@dinowiki.app and we will fix it.
Rex is hungry! Dino Wiki is a dad's project for his dino-loving son, free with no ads. Grown-ups can feed Rex a snack to help keep it online.Feed Rex
Ichthyosaurus
Platypterygius
Stenopterygius
Khudiakovia
Ophthalmosaurus
Chonespondylus
Brachiosaurus
Diplodocus
Allosaurus
Brontosaurus
Compsognathus
Camarasaurus