2999 - Fossil Ichthyosaur Skeleton. Triassic Period, circa 246-237 million years B.P. Ichthyosaur from the Mixosaurus genus, with several small teeth visible in the mouth, large eye sockets, many of the spinous processes present on the spine, and a large number of the flipper bones present on both the fore and hind paddles. 10 kg, 64.5 cm (25 3/8 in.).

Fossil Ichthyosaur Skeleton. Triassic Period, circa 246-237 million years B.P. Ichthyosaur from the Mixosaurus genus, with several small teeth visible in the mouth, large eye sockets, many of the spinous processes present on the spine, and a large number of the flipper bones present on both the fore and hind paddles. 10 kg, 64.5 cm (25 3/8 in.). From the Guanling Biota formation, China. Previously with Shishang Corporation, Taiwan. From a West London gentleman collector; acquired from a professional fossil company in Taiwan. Originally, ichthyosaur fossils were misidentified as Saurian -being either lizards or forms of crocodile. The term 'Ichthyosaur' was first used in 1817 by the German naturalist Karl Dietrich Eberhard Konig, and he did not publish the name until 1825. By the 1830s, the name Ichthyosaur was widely used. Mixosaurus is considered to be a transitional genus that was smaller in size than the later dolphin-like Ichthyosaurs. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.