Argovisaurus

Argovisaurus lived about 170 to 165 million years ago, during the Middle Jurassic period.3

Its skull was almost 1.2 metres long, making it one of the largest ichthyosaurs of its time.2

The only known fossil was discovered by a private collector named Elmar Meier over twenty years before scientists studied it.2

Argovisaurus had a robust snout and special tooth sockets called pseudoalveoli in the front half of its jaws.2

It is one of the earliest members of the group Ophthalmosauria, which includes many later ichthyosaurs.2

Scientists used CT scans and surface scans to make a 3D reconstruction of its skull.2

The fossil was found in the Hauptrogenstein Formation, which was once a shallow, warm sea.1