The Reason For The Extinction Of Ichthyosaurs Is Named - Alternative View

The Reason For The Extinction Of Ichthyosaurs Is Named - Alternative View
The Reason For The Extinction Of Ichthyosaurs Is Named - Alternative View

Video: The Reason For The Extinction Of Ichthyosaurs Is Named - Alternative View

Video: The Reason For The Extinction Of Ichthyosaurs Is Named - Alternative View
Video: When Ichthyosaurs Led a Revolution in the Seas 2024, March
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An international team of scientists has clarified the reason for the extinction of ichthyosaurs - marine reptiles resembling fish and dolphins. This is reported in an article published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

After analyzing a number of factors and fossil specimens, the researchers concluded that a sharp climate change led to the extinction of ichthyosaurs 94 million years ago. As a result, the deep parts of the oceans, where reptiles lived, were left practically without oxygen. The consequence of this was a change in the habitat of ichthyosaurs, which led to hunger and low survival rates of their offspring.

The researchers note that the extinction of these reptiles happened quite quickly. Along with them, other organisms have become victims of climate change. For several hundred years, the ichthyosaur niche was occupied by mosasaurs - relatives of modern monitor lizards.

Ichthyosaurs appeared 248 million years ago. They looked a lot like sharks and were viviparous. The average ichthyosaur was less than four meters long.