Utatsusaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Utatsusaurus |
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| Fossil | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | †Ichthyopterygia |
| Family: | †Utatsusauridae McGowan & Motani, 2003 |
| Genus: | †Utatsusaurus Shikama et al., 1978 |
| Type species | |
| †Utatsusaurus hataii Shikama et al., 1978
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Utatsusaurus was an ancient marine reptile that lived in the ocean a very long time ago. It was one of the earliest known types of ichthyosaur, which were like dolphins or sharks but were reptiles. This amazing creature lived during the early Lower Triassic period, about 250 to 245 million years ago. It could grow to be nearly 3 meters (about 9 feet) long and had a slim body.
Discovery and Name
The name Utatsusaurus comes from the city of Utatsu-cho in Japan. This is where the very first fossil of this animal was found. Fossils of Utatsusaurus have been discovered in the Miyagi Prefecture in Japan and also in British Columbia, Canada.
What Made It Special?
Utatsusaurus is considered a very primitive (or early) type of ichthyosaur. This means it had features that were still similar to its ancestors who lived on land. It also had some features that were starting to change, leading to the more advanced ichthyosaurs we know.
- Unlike later ichthyosaurs, Utatsusaurus did not have a dorsal fin (the fin on its back).
- It had a wide skull, and its snout (nose area) became narrower gently.
- Its tail was long with a low fin, which was quite different from the strong, crescent-shaped tails of later ichthyosaurs.
- Scientists think Utatsusaurus swam by undulation. This means it moved its whole body from side to side, like a snake or an eel, instead of just using its flippers and tail.
A Lucky Escape
In 2011, a big earthquake and tsunami hit the Tōhoku region of Japan. The local museum where some Utatsusaurus fossils were kept was destroyed. Luckily, the important specimens were not in the museum at that time, so they were saved!
Images for kids
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Fossil of Utatsusaurus in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
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Restoration
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Fossil of Utatsusaurus hataii. Exhibit in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo.
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Utatsusaurus with a human to scale.
See also
In Spanish: Utatsusaurus para niños
