New marine reptile from the Triassic of Nevada fills ichthyosaur evolutionary gap

Paleontologists have described a new species of ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic of Nevada that fills a gap in the early evolution of these marine reptiles. The specimen, approximately 4 meters long, shows a mix of primitive and advanced features that helps explain how ichthyosaurs transitioned from nearshore to open-ocean lifestyles. The fossil was recovered from the Favret Formation and preserves a near-complete skeleton including the skull and forelimbs. The discovery contributes to understanding the rapid diversification of marine reptiles following the Permian extinction.