Sveltonectes

The name Sveltonectes means 'agile swimmer' in Greek, because it was small and built for speed in the water.1

Its scientific name Sveltonectes insolitus means 'unusual agile swimmer', because its teeth and bones are very different from other ichthyosaurs.1

Sveltonectes had small, sharp teeth, unlike most other Cretaceous ichthyosaurs that had bigger, blunter teeth.2

Its closest relative is another ichthyosaur called Aegirosaurus.1

The only known fossil of Sveltonectes was found in rocks that are about 126 million years old, from the Early Cretaceous period.1

Scientists think Sveltonectes was a fast swimmer because it had strong muscles around its flippers and a streamlined skull.1