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This battered Jurassic sea giant held on against the odds, and its fossil hints at an unexpected survival strategy

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Zitteliana (2026). DOI: 10.3897/zitteliana.100.172724"> Anterior part of the mandible with dentary fossa and neurovascular groove system, Temnodontosaurus cf. trigonodon (UMO BT 011237.00). Credit: Zitteliana (2026). DOI: 10.3897/zitteliana.100.172724 A fossil discovery in Mistelgau, Northern Bavaria, Germany, reveals that the last representatives of the giant ichthyosaurs of the genus Temnodontosaurus survived longer in the Southwest German Basin than previously thought. The Early Jurassic marine reptile is exceptionally well-preserved. In addition to injuries in the skeleton of this marine predator, SNSB researchers also found gastroliths in the animal's abdominal region—a phenomenon typically associated with birds, dinosaurs, or crocodiles. The researchers have published the results of their study in the journal Zitteliana . The Mistelgau clay pit near Bayreuth, Germany, is known for its well-preserved marine fossils, particularly its abundance of ichthyosaurs.…

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