Marine reptiles from Nevada: Recovery of a Middle Triassic pregnant ichthyosaur and the first unequivocally Lower Triassic ichthyosaurs from North America

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Sander
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2014 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 264173172

• Final Report Year: 2016

Final Report Abstract

The report describes the results of two field seasons funded by this project in the Lower and Middle Triassic rocks in the Augusta Mountains of Central Nevada, USA. These field seasons took place in Juli and August 2014 and 2015, respectively, and were aimed at recovering a Middle Triassic pregnant ichthyosaur specimen, a new taxon, and three Lower Triassic ichthyosaur skeletons. These specimens were collected. In addition, another skull of the new taxon, several other Lower Triassic ichthyosaur skeletons, and a partial skeleton with an outstandingly preserved skull of the very large predatory ichthyosaur Thalattoarchon were collected. The material is partially prepared by now and currently under study.