An ichthyosaur skeleton hidden under paint

PUBLICATION — Weryński Ł, Błażejowski B., Szczygielski T., Kajdas B. 2025. A highly articulated Early Jurassic ichthyosaur, Stenopterygius, from the historical collection of the Jagiellonian University, Poland. Geological Quaterly 69 (2): 24. https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1797

Figure: (A) Stenopterygius quadriscissus CEP-DG-7264-N after cleaning from paint layers and (B) life restoration (artwork by Bartosz Czader).

Ichthyosaurs are one of the symbols of the Mesozoic and, alongside whales, the best-adapted to a marine lifestyle amniotes. The Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale abounds in excellently preserved fossils, including ichthyosaurs. We present a specimen of Stenopterygius quadriscissus (Bad Boll, Baden-Württemberg, Germany) from the collection of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. For many years, it was believed to be a plaster cast but thanks to the diligence of the staff of the Jagiellonian University’s Nature Education Centre it turned out to be a nearly complete skeleton covered with several layers of black paint. The specimen was cleaned and analyzed. Belemnites associated with the fossil may represent remains of its last meal.