Shastasaur

Taxobox
name = Shastasaurs
fossil_range = fossil range|230|210Triassic

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Shastasaurus altispinus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
subclassis = ?Diapsida
superordo = Ichthyopterygia
ordo = Ichthyosauria
infraordo = Shastasauria
infraordo_authority = Montani, 1998
familia = Shastasauridae
familia_authority = Merriam, 1895
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision ="Shonisaurus"
"Shastasaurus"

The shastasaurs were an early group of ichthyosaurs, living 230-210 million years ago, in the Triassic period. They had big heads with a long snout. They had reduced or no dorsal fins. Shastasaurs were the largest of all ichthyosaurs.

One species of the Western American shastasaurid, "Shonisaurus", grew to 23 m long. Shastasaurs ate fish and other small aquatic animals, like ammonites. This group included the genera "Shonisaurus", and "Shastasaurus".

External links

* [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-3360(198911)63%3A6%3C930%3ASA(SFT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6 "Shastasaurus altispinus (Ichthyosauria, Shastasauridae) from the Upper Triassic of the El Antimonio District, Northwestern Sonora, Mexico"]