La sculpture créée par les chercheurs. Crédit : Johan Joelsson
Des géologues de l’Université de Lund en Suède ont dressé la carte de 300 ans de recherches sur les reptiles marins préhistoriques connus sous le nom d’ichtyosaures. À l’aide d’un fossile exceptionnellement bien conservé, l’équipe a également créé la reconstruction d’un ichtyosaure la plus récente sur le plan scientifique actuellement disponible.
Les lézards-poissons, ou ichtyosaures, étaient un groupe d’animaux très performants qui, un peu comme les baleines d’aujourd’hui, ont migré de la terre vers les océans où ils ont prospéré pendant environ 160 millions d’années. Ces reptiles ressemblant à des dauphins ont vécu du début du Triassic to the Late Cretaceous, about the same time as dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
The fish lizards, who sustained themselves on a diet of turtles and octopuses, among other things, have left behind a rich fossil record. This consists mostly of bones and teeth, but recently the discovery of soft tissues — such as skin, muscles, fat, and pigment — has opened up new opportunities for understanding the biology and ecology of these animals.
In a new study published in Earth-Science Reviews, a group of geologists at Lund University has analyzed existing fish lizard research – something that will benefit future paleontologists.
Professor Mats Eriksson, sculpture artist Esben Horn and researcher Johan Lindgren with the sculpture. Credit: Johan Joelsson
“This research history spans 300 years. It is worth noting that the term ichthyosaur was coined in 1814, i.e. almost 30 years before the term dinosaur,” says Mats E. Eriksson, professor of paleontology at Lund University.
Based on the world’s collective knowledge of these primordial animals, as well as hard and soft fossil parts, the researchers enlisted the help of the Danish sculpture company 10 Tons, to create a scientifically correct life-size reconstruction.
“Our reference point was a fish lizard that was found in Holzmaden, Germany. This fossil has previously been the subject of an extensive study on the biology and coloration of fish lizards, which I did together with Mats and several other colleagues, and was published in Nature,” explains Johan Lindgren, geology researcher at Lund University.
A variety of techniques, including clay sculpturing and 3D printing, were used in the work, something that took just over a year. The sculpture initiative, which could be carried out with support from the Crafoord Foundation, aims to reflect the current state of research. The sculpture is now on public display at the Department of Geology in Lund.
“Our reconstruction is the scientifically most modern, and hopefully correct, interpretation of what these animals looked like. It will be valuable for students and researchers who want to learn more about the iconic fish lizard,” concludes Mats E. Eriksson.
Reference: “A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions” by Mats E. Eriksson, Randolph De La Garza, Esben Horn and Johan Lindgren, 14 February 2022, Earth-Science Reviews.
DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965
