Besanosaurus

Besanosaurus lived about 247 to 237 million years ago, during the Middle Triassic Period.3

The first complete skeleton of Besanosaurus was discovered in 1993 in a quarry near Besano, Italy.2

Besanosaurus had four flippers instead of legs, and a fin on its tail to help it swim.1

One fossil of Besanosaurus contains the remains of an embryo inside, showing that these reptiles gave birth to live young, not eggs.1

Scientists once thought a similar fossil was a different animal called Mikadocephalus, but now they think it is actually Besanosaurus.2

Besanosaurus had a very long, thin snout and tiny teeth, which it used to snap up small, fast prey.1

The Besano Formation where Besanosaurus was found was once a lagoon with many other ichthyosaurs, each using different hunting methods to avoid competition.1