HOME | DD

Description
Shastasaurus altispinus, a primitive ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian) of California and Mexico. The taxonomy of the genus Shastasaurus is confused by the description by Merriam of numerous species on the basis of fragmentary materials discovered in California. Except for perhaps S. careyi, they probably all belong to a single species, S. altispinus (to which the first described species, S. pacificus, now considered a nomen dubium, can be associated to). The european species, S. carinthiacus, is a nomen dubium.

Description
Shastasaurus altispinus, a primitive ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian) of California and Mexico. The taxonomy of the genus Shastasaurus is confused by the description by Merriam of numerous species on the basis of fragmentary materials discovered in California. Except for perhaps S. careyi, they probably all belong to a single species, S. altispinus (to which the first described species, S. pacificus, now considered a nomen dubium, can be associated to). The european species, S. carinthiacus, is a nomen dubium.