Size Comparison Of 15 Biggest Ichthyosaurs

Ichthyosaurs are extinct group of aquatic reptiles, most of which were very similar to dolphins and porpoises in appearance and habits. These distant relatives of lizards and snakes were the most highly specialized aquatic reptiles, but they were not dinosaurs. Their fossil remains span almost the entire Mesozoic Era, that is between 251 million to 65.5 million years ago. Without further delay, let us look at the 15 biggest Ichthyosaurs that have been discovered so far:
15. The smallest on the list is the Grendelius, a small-to-medium-sized ichthyosaur measuring about 13 feet long and weighs 750 kilograms.
14. Undorosaurus is an ichthyosaur discovered in western Russia, Svalbard, and Poland. The species measures between 13 to 20 feet in length.
13. Parrassaurus, a 16-foot-long ichthyosaur from the late Jurassic Formation of Mexico that was just found in 2021.
12. Guizhouichthyosaurus is a medium ichthyosaur that normally measures about 16 feet long, with some specimens reaching 20 feet and 1,400 kilograms.
11. The fossils of Leptonectes have been discovered only in Europe. The largest species measured 16 to 20 feet in length making it the 11th biggest Ichthyosaur.
10. Muiscasaurus, it lived on what is now Colombian soil. The preserved skull is 18 inches long and might reach 16.5 feet long in adults depending on its exact proportions.
09. Platypterygius, a species discovered in Germany, 1922. Experts calculated that the largest species measured 18 to 23 feet long and weighed 1,200 to 1,650 kilograms.
08. Excalibosaurus lived in what is now England. The animal’s snout resembles a swordfish. The holotype specimen is over 21 feet long in total.
07. Caypullisaurus, which lived in Argentina from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, is the 7th largest Ichthyosaur. Its was a large ichthyosaur, with holotype measuring approximately 23 feet in length.
06. Eurhinosaurus fossils have been found in Western Europe. The 6th biggest individual on the list could reach up to 23 feet in length and an estimated weight of 2,500 kilograms.
Now we come to the top 5 biggest Ichthyosaurs:
05. Guanlingsaurus is an ichthyosaur found in China. It had a triangular skull with a short and toothless snout. Guanlingsaurus grew up to 33 feet, it had an estimated weight up to 13,000 kilograms or 13 metric tons.
04. Temnodontosaurus, a large ichthyosaur with largest individual attaining a maximum body length of 10 metres or 33 feet. It is distinguished for its enormous eyes.
03. Shonisaurus, a genus of exceptionally big ichthyosaurs. Shonisaurus, with a huge skull about 9 feet long, may grow to be 44 to 49 feet long and weigh 21.6 to 29.7 metric tons.
02. Himalayasaurus, a giant animal fossil that was unearthed in Tibet. Himalayasaurus's entire body length is thick, and it was estimated to be over 49 feet long and weigh up to 40 metric tons.
01. Finally, the biggest of them all is the Shastasaurus, with an estimated length of 21 metres or 69 feet, weighing over 81 metric tons. Shastasaurus has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest extinct marine reptile ever discovered. New fossil discoveries show predatory marine reptiles from 200 million years ago may have been bigger than today’s blue whales.