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Adaptations for stealth in the wing-like flippers of a large ichthyosaur

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Title: Adaptations for stealth in the wing-like flippers of a large ichthyosaur
Authors: Lindgren, Johan, Lomax, Dean R., Szász, Robert Zoltán, Marx, Miguel, Revstedt, Johan, Göltz, Georg, Sachs, Sven, De La Garza, Randolph G., Heingård, Miriam, Jarenmark, Martin, Ydström, Kristina, Sjövall, Peter, Osbæck, Frank, Hall, Stephen A., Op de Beeck, Michiel, Eriksson, Mats E., Alwmark, Carl, Marone, Federica, Liptak, Alexander, Atwood, Robert, Burca, Genoveva, Uvdal, Per, Persson, Per, Nilsson, Dan Eric
Contributors: Lund University, Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Geologiska institutionen, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Departments at LTH, Department of Energy Sciences, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Institutioner vid LTH, Institutionen för energivetenskaper, Originator, Lund University, Profile areas and other strong research environments, Strategic research areas (SRA), eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration, Lunds universitet, Profilområden och andra starka forskningsmiljöer, Strategiska forskningsområden (SFO), eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Science, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund, Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Medicinsk strålningsfysik, Lund, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Departments at LTH, Department of Construction Sciences, Solid Mechanics, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Institutioner vid LTH, Institutionen för byggvetenskaper, Hållfasthetslära, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Science, Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC), Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Centrum för miljö- och klimatvetenskap (CEC), Originator, Lund University, Profile areas and other strong research environments, Lund University Profile areas, LU Profile Area: Light and Materials, Lunds universitet, Profilområden och andra starka forskningsmiljöer, Lunds universitets profilområden, LU profilområde: Ljus och material, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, LTH Profile areas, LTH Profile Area: Photon Science and Technology, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, LTH profilområden, LTH profilområde: Avancerade ljuskällor, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Physical and theoretical chemistry, Chemical Physics, Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Kemiska institutionen, Enheten för fysikalisk och teoretisk kemi, Kemisk fysik, Originator, Lund University, Profile areas and other strong research environments, Strategic research areas (SRA), BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate, Lunds universitet, Profilområden och andra starka forskningsmiljöer, Strategiska forskningsområden (SFO), BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Sections at the Department of Biology, Sensory Biology, Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Biologiska institutionen, Avdelningar vid Biologiska institutionen, Sinnesbiologi, Originator, Lund University, Profile areas and other strong research environments, Lund University Profile areas, LU Profile Area: Natural and Artificial Cognition, Lunds universitet, Profilområden och andra starka forskningsmiljöer, Lunds universitets profilområden, LU profilområde: Naturlig och artificiell kognition, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Research groups at the Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Biologiska institutionen, Forskargrupper vid Biologiska institutionen, Syngruppen, Originator
Source: Nature. 644(8078):976-983
Subject Terms: Natural Sciences, Earth and Related Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology and Palaeoecology, Naturvetenskap, Geovetenskap och relaterad miljövetenskap, Paleontologi och paleoekologi
Description: With their superficially shark-like appearance, the Mesozoic ichthyosaurs provide a classic illustration of major morphological adaptations in an ancestrally terrestrial tetrapod lineage following the invasion of marine habitats1, 2–3. Much of what is known about ichthyosaur soft tissues derives from specimens with body outlines4, 5–6. However, despite offering insights into aspects of biology that are otherwise difficult to envisage from skeletal evidence alone (such as the presence of a crescentic fluke), information on their soft parts has hitherto been limited to a taxonomically narrow sample of small- to dolphin-sized animals2,4, 5–6. Here we report the discovery of a metre-long front flipper of the large-bodied Jurassic ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus, including unique details of its soft-tissue anatomy. In addition to revealing a wing-like planform, the fossil preserves a serrated trailing edge that is reinforced by novel cartilaginous integumental elements, herein denominated chondroderms. We also document chordwise-parallel skin ornamentations and a protracted fleshy distal tip that presumably acted like a flexible winglet in life. By integrating morphological and numerical data, we show that the observed features probably provided hydroacoustic benefits, and conclude that the visually guided7,8Temnodontosaurus relied on stealth while hunting in dim-lit pelagic environments. This unexpected combination of control surface modifications represents a previously unrecognized mode of concealment, and underscores the importance of soft-tissue fossils when inferring aspects of palaeoethology and predator–prey palaeoecology.
Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09271-w
Database: SwePub
Description
ISSN:00280836
DOI:10.1038/s41586-025-09271-w