Macgowania

Macgowania had a very large eye socket and a huge nostril, which may have helped it see and smell in the dark ocean.2

Its flippers had a special pattern of bones, with a mosaic of small polygonal pieces, which is different from many other ichthyosaurs.2

The first fossil was found in 1996, but it was originally thought to be a species of Ichthyosaurus. Later, in 1999, scientists gave it its own genus name.1

A second, nearly complete skeleton was discovered in 2009 by an outdoor club, but part of it had already fallen into a river. Scientists rescued the remaining part with ropes and plaster.1

Macgowania lived in the ocean, but it breathed air and gave birth to live young, just like other ichthyosaurs.2

Its name honors Chris McGowan, the paleontologist who first described the fossil, and the species name 'janiceps' comes from Janus, the Roman god with two faces.1