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Ichthyosaurus "fish lizard" cruised the open seas of the world during the Mesozoic enjoying their peak during the Jurassic, declining in numbers thereafter, and becoming extinct by the mid-Cretaceous.They were shaped like fish but were air breathing reptiles. They had a streamlined torpedo-shaped body with a stabilizing dorsal fin on the back, paired paddles for steering, and a strong fishlike tail with 2 equal lobes for swimming. Their highly streamlined shape and their powerful tail allowed them to swim at speeds over 25 miles per hour. They did not lay eggs like other reptiles and dinosaurs. Instead they gave birth to live young at sea. |
