Simbirskiasaurus

Simbirskiasaurus had a divided nostril opening, with a bony pillar separating it into two parts. This is a rare feature among ichthyosaurs.1

Its skull bones show deep interlocking joints between the prefrontal and lacrimal bones, similar to the much older ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus.1

The only known fossil is a partial skull and backbone, found in clay from the Simbirskites Clay formation.13

Scientists once thought Simbirskiasaurus was a doubtful name, but a 2014 study confirmed it is a valid genus of platypterygiine ichthyosaur.2

It lived about 130 million years ago, during the early Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous.1

Simbirskiasaurus belongs to the group Platypterygiinae, which includes some of the last ichthyosaurs before they went extinct.13