Ichthyosaur Vertebra Fossil

Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles with streamlined bodies, no neck, and smooth heads. They were air-breathing creatures with two nostrils situated far back on the top of the head, generally similar in shape to a modern porpoise. Ichthyosaurs likely fed on fish using their numerous sharp teeth and enormous eyes to locate prey in deep water. Most abundant and diverse during the Triassic and Jurassic Periods, their fossils have been uncovered around the world and were extant through the Early Cretaceous.  This specimen is an Ichthyosaur vertebra recovered from Jurassic Period formations in the United Kingdom. Recorded discoveries of partial Ichthyosaur fossils in this region date back to the 18th century, though they were often mistaken for fish. It wasn't until 1811 when Joseph Anning, brother of the famous fossil-hunter Mary Anning, discovered the remains of an Ichthyosaur which was later unearthed in its entirety by Ms. Anning and studied by surgeon Everard Home, that a better understa