List of ichthyosauromorph genera

Template:Short description This list of ichthyosauromorphs is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included in the clade Ichthyosauromorpha, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms of more established names, and genera that are no longer considered ichthyopterygian. Non-ichthyosaur ichthyopterygians shall be noted as such. This list contains 123 genera.

Scope and terminology

There is no official, canonical list of ichthyosauromorph genera but one of the most thorough attempts can be found at the "Ichthyosauromorpha" section of Mikko Haaramo's Phylogeny Archive.

Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Technical terms used include:

• Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN, but junior synonyms cannot be used again, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen.
• Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen. In this case, these nomina nuda will be deleted from this list in favor of the published name.
• Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. As preoccupied names are not valid generic names, they will also go unitalicized on this list.
• Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features. As this can be an extremely subjective and controversial designation, this term is not used on this list.

The list

Genus Authors Year Status Age Location Notes Images Acamptonectes Fischer et al. 2012 Valid Early Cretaceous Germany United Kingdom (England) Possessed an unusually rigid trunk, which would make the extent of its lateral locomotion very limited File:Acamptonectes NT.jpg Actiosaurus Sauvage 1883 Dubious Late Triassic France While originally described as a dinosaur and later reinterpreted as an ichthyosaur, it may actually represent a choristodere File:Actiosaurus.jpg Acuetzpalin Barrientos-Lara & Alvarado-Ortega 2020 Valid Late Jurassic Mexico Known from a partial limbless skeleton with a well-preserved skull Aegirosaurus Bardet & Fernández 2000 Valid Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous France Germany Four of its caudal vertebrae made its tail to bend roughly 45° downwards File:Unnamed ichthyosaur Blumenberg.jpg Anhuisaurus Chen 1985 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Preoccupied by lizard genus Anhuisaurus (Hou, 1974). Junior synonym of Chaohusaurus Argovisaurus Miedema et al. 2024 Valid Middle Jurassic Switzerland May have preserved traumatic injuries based on abnormalities in its skeleton File:Argovisaurus Life Restoration.png Arthropterygius Maxwell 2010 Valid Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous? Argentina Canada Norway Russia Its rostrum was relatively short and robust File:Arthropterygius Scale.svg Athabascasaurus Druckenmiller & Maxwell 2010 Valid Early Cretaceous Canada The holotype was discovered at an oilsand mine File:Athabascasaurus bitumineus holotype.jpg Auroroborealia Zverkov et al. 2021 Valid Late Triassic Russia Suggested to be a small-bodied animal although its exact ontogenetic stage is uncertain due to fragmentary remains Baisesaurus Ren et al. 2022 Valid Early Triassic China Very similar to Utatsusaurus File:Baisesaurus (holotype, CUGW VH107).png Baptanodon Marsh 1880 Valid Late Jurassic United States Formerly erroneously thought to have been toothless File:Gilmore Notes on Osteology of Baptanodon Plate XXXVI.png Barracudasauroides Maisch 2010 Valid Middle Triassic China Only known from a partial skeleton originally referred to Mixosaurus File:Barracudasauroides NT.jpg Barracudasaurus Jiang et al. 2005 Dubious Middle Triassic China Its premaxillary teeth were rounded in cross-section Besanosaurus Dal Sasso & Pinna 1996 Valid Middle Triassic Italy Switzerland May have had strong jaw muscles as indicated by its skull bones File:BesanosaurusDB15.jpg Brachypterygius von Huene 1922 Valid Late Jurassic United Kingdom (England) Closely related to Platypterygius and Caypullisaurus File:Brachypterygius NT small.jpg Californosaurus Kuhn 1934 Valid Middle Triassic to Late Triassic Germany United States Originally named as a species of Shastasaurus File:Californosaurus2 NT small.jpg Callawayia Maische & Matzke 2000 Valid Late Triassic Canada The morphology of its scapulae was more similar to those of Jurassic ichthyosaurs than to other Triassic taxa File:Callawayia SW.png Cartorhynchus Motani et al. 2014 Valid Early Triassic China Represents a sudden diversification of marine reptiles that occurred shortly after the Permian-Triassic extinction event File:Cartorhynchus NT.jpg Catutosaurus Fernández et al. 2021 Valid Late Jurassic Argentina Represented by at least three fragmentary specimens Caypullisaurus Fernández 1997 Valid Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Argentina Each of its forelimbs contained ten digits File:Caypullisaurus Dak1.jpg Chacaicosaurus Fernández 1994 Valid Middle Jurassic Argentina Inconsistent in phylogenetic placement File:Chacaicosaurus SW.png Chaohusaurus Young & Dong 1972 Valid Early Triassic China One specimen preserves the remains of two embryos and a neonate File:Chaohusaurus BW.jpg Chensaurus Mazin et al. 1991 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Chaohusaurus Chonespondylus Leidy 1868 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Cymbospondylus Contectopalatus Maische & Matzke 1998 Jr. synonym? N/A N/A Possibly a junior synonym of Phalarodon Cryopterygius Druckenmiller et al. 2012 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Undorosaurus Cymbospondylus Leidy 1868 Valid Early Triassic to Middle Triassic Switzerland United States Lacked a dorsal fin and fluked tail, which would suggest it probably swam by wriggling its body from side to side like a modern sea snake File:Cymbospondylus youngorum reconstruction 2023.jpg Dearcmhara Brusatte et al. 2015 Valid Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic United Kingdom (Scotland) The first ichthyosaur discovered in Scotland Delphinosaurus Eichwald 1853 Dubious Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous Russia Originally mistakenly believed to be an amphibian Eretmorhipis Chen et al. 2015 Valid Early Triassic China Exhibited a suite of unusual features, such as relatively small eyes, a platypus-like snout, and plates on its back similar to those of stegosaurs File:Eretmorhipis complete.jpg Eternauta Campos et al. 2025 Valid Late Jurassic Argentina May have relied on deep-diving while hunting its prey as suggested by its preserved scleral ring File:Skull of Eternauta patagonica.jpg Eurhinosaurus Abel 1909 Valid Early Jurassic Belgium France Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom (England) Its upper jaw was twice as long as the lower jaw, convergent with billfish File:Eurhinosaurus BW.jpg Eurypterygius Jaekel 1904 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Ichthyosaurus Excalibosaurus McGowan 1986 Valid Early Jurassic United Kingdom (England) May have been a rare component of its environment as only two skeletons are known File:Excalibosaurus BW.jpg Fernatator Massare et al. 2025 Valid Early Jurassic Canada The most complete ichthyosaur known from the Early Jurassic of North America Gadusaurus Pratas e Souza et al. 2025 Valid Early Jurassic Portugal Although the majority of the cranial sutures are completely fused, which is often seen in adult ichthyosaurs, the midline suture is not fused, which would indicate the holotype belonged to either a juvenile or subadult individual File:Gadusaurus (holotype, ML 2750).png Gengasaurus Paparella et al. 2017 Valid Late Jurassic Italy Before its formal description, it had been nicknamed the "Genga ichthyosaur" Grendelius McGowan 1976 Valid Late Jurassic Russia United Kingdom (England) Once considered to be synonymous with Brachypterygius File:Otshevia2DB.jpg Grippia Wiman 1930 Valid Early Triassic Canada China Greenland Japan Norway Members of this genus may have swum by moving their tails laterally, similar to an eel File:Grippia1DB.jpg Guanlingsaurus Yin et al. 2000 Valid Late Triassic China Has been suggested to be an Asian species of Shastasaurus File:Guanlingsaurus restoration.jpg Guizhouichthyosaurus Cao & Luo 2000 Valid Middle Triassic to Late Triassic China Two morphotypes of skulls and limbs are known, which could be an indication of sexual dimorphism File:Guizhouichthyosaurus SW.png Gulosaurus Cuthbertson et al. 2013 Valid Early Triassic Canada Originally thought to belong to either Grippia or Parvinatator Hauffiopteryx Maisch 2008 Valid Early Jurassic Germany Luxembourg Switzerland United Kingdom (England) Distinguished by its short, very thin snout File:Hauffiopteryx SW 1.png Himalayasaurus Dong 1972 Valid Late Triassic China Similarly to Thalattoarchon, its teeth possessed distinctive cutting edges File:Himalayasaurus.png Hudsonelpidia McGowan 1995 Valid Late Triassic Canada The holotype specimen is almost complete File:Hudsonelpidia.jpg Hupehsuchus Young 1972 Valid Early Triassic China Has been suggested to be a filter feeder, similar to baleen whales, although a 2025 review argues that it most likely fed like a pelican File:Hupehsuchus.jpg Ichthyosaurus De la Beche & Conybeare 1821 Valid Early Jurassic Belgium Germany Portugal United Kingdom (England) The first ichthyosaur genus to be validly named and described File:Ichthyosaurus BW.jpg Ichthyotitan Lomax et al. 2024 Valid Late Triassic United Kingdom (England) The largest ichthyosaur and marine reptile currently known File:Ichthyotitan severnensis speculative restoration.png Isfjordosaurus Motani 1999 Valid Early Triassic Norway Named as a species of Pessopteryx before being assigned to its own genus Jabalisaurus Barrientos-Lara & Alvarado-Ortega 2021 Valid Late Jurassic Mexico Originally believed to be a specimen of Ophthalmosaurus Janusaurus Roberts et al. 2014 Valid Late Jurassic Norway Has been suggested to be synonymous with Arthropterygius although this was disputed by a subsequent study File:Janusaurus.png Kazakhstanosaurus Bolatovna & Makustovich 2021 Valid Late Jurassic Kazakhstan Russia Two species are known Keilhauia Delsett et al. 2017 Valid Early Cretaceous Norway Can be distinguished from other ophthalmosaurids by the wide top end of the ilium and exceptionally short ischiopubis compared to the femur File:Keilhauia Scale.svg Kyhytysuka Cortés et al. 2021 Valid Early Cretaceous Colombia Formerly thought to represent a species of Platypterygius, but it was assigned to its own genus due to morphological differences File:Kyhytysuka sachicarum FINAL.png Leninia Fischer et al. 2013 Valid Early Cretaceous Russia One of the latest-surviving ophthalmosaurines Lentamanusuchus Qiao, Iijima & Liu 2025 Valid Early Triassic China Possessed unusually wide autopodia compared to other hupehsuchians File:Lentamanusuchus (holotype, HFUT YZSB-19-100).png Leptocheirus Merriam 1903 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Toretocnemus Leptonectes McGowan 1996 Valid Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Belgium Germany Spain United Kingdom (England) One referred specimen reported from Switzerland has been found to actually belong to the related Hauffiopteryx File:Leptonectes SW 1.png Leptopterygius Huene 1929 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Leptonectes Macgowania Motani 1999 Valid Late Triassic Canada Originally misidentified as a species of Ichthyosaurus File:Macgowania janiceps holotype (cropped).jpg Macropterygius von Huene 1922 Dubious Late Jurassic United Kingdom (England) Several specimens have been assigned to this genus, but only the type, a single vertebra, can confidently be referred to it Magnipterygius Maisch & Matzke 2022 Valid Early Jurassic Germany Shares some features with Stenopterygius File:Magnipterygius huenei.png Maiaspondylus Maxwell & Caldwell 2006 Valid Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous Canada Russia United Kingdom (England) One particular specimen proves this genus, just like other ichthyosaurs, was viviparous File:Maiaspondylus.png Malawania Fischer et al. 2013 Valid Early Cretaceous Iraq Relatively basal compared to other Cretaceous ichthyosaur taxa File:Malawania.jpg Merriamia Boulenger 1904 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Toretocnemus Metashastasaurus Nicholls & Manabe 2001 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Callawayia Mikadocephalus Maisch & Matzke 1997 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Besanosaurus Mixosaurus Baur 1887 Valid Middle Triassic China Italy Switzerland Various species have been named, but most have been considered doubtful or assigned to new genera File:Mixosaurus cornalianus SW 1.png Mollesaurus Fernández 1999 Valid Middle Jurassic Argentina The oldest known ophthalmosaurid Muiscasaurus Maxwell et al. 2015 Valid Early Cretaceous Colombia May have been a specialized predator that fed on small, soft prey Myobradypterygius von Huene 1927 Valid Early Cretaceous Argentina Chile? Once thought to be a species of Platypterygius Myopterygius von Huene 1922 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Platypterygius Nanchangosaurus Wang 1959 Valid Middle Triassic China Its back carried bony scutes, not unlike an alligator File:Nanchangosaurus.png Nannopterygius von Huene 1922 Valid Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Kazakhstan Norway Russia United Kingdom (England) Similar to Ophthalmosaurus but with smaller flippers. Six species are recognized File:Yasikovia2.jpg Omphalosaurus Merriam 1906 Valid Early Triassic to Middle Triassic Austria Norway Poland United States Its bones were relatively fast-growing as evidenced by the presence of woven-fibered bone tissue File:Omphalosaurus10DB.jpg Ophthalmosaurus Seeley 1874 Valid Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic United Kingdom (England) Noted for its proportionally large eyes, which could measure between 22–23 centimetres (8.7–9.1 in) in diameter File:Ophthalmosaurus icenicus updated reconstruction.png Otschevia Efimov 1998 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Grendelius Pachygonosaurus von Huene 1916 Dubious Middle Triassic Poland Only definitively known from two vertebrae File:Pachygonosaurus vertebrae.png Palvennia Druckenmiller et al. 2012 Valid Late Jurassic Norway One study considered it to be a junior synonym of Arthropterygius, but this was not supported by later research Panjiangsaurus Chen & Chang 2003 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Guizhouichthyosaurus Parahupehsuchus Chen et al. 2014 Valid Early Triassic China Unlike other hupehsuchians, it possessed flat, wide ribs File:Parahupehsuchus.png Paraophthalmosaurus Arkhangelsky 1997 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Nannopterygius Parrassaurus Barrientos-Lara & Alvarado-Ortega 2021 Valid Late Jurassic Mexico Relatively large for an ophthalmosaurid File:Parrassaurus 01.jpg Parvinatator Nicholls & Brinkman 1995 Valid Early Triassic to Middle Triassic Canada The only known specimen has a badly damaged skull File:Parvinatator reconstruction.png Pessopteryx Wiman 1910 Valid Early Triassic Norway Originally known from four species, but only the type can confidently be assigned to the genus Pessosaurus Wiman 1910 Valid Middle Triassic Norway Two species have been described Phalarodon Merriam 1910 Valid Middle Triassic Canada China Germany Norway Switzerland? United States Mostly known from specimens consisting of cranial remains File:Contectopalatus atavus.png Phantomosaurus Maisch & Matzke 2000 Valid Middle Triassic Germany Although it was closely related to Cymbospondylus, its braincase resembled more that of other diapsids than other ichthyosaurs File:Phantomosaurus cf neubigi 3.jpg Platypterygius von Huene 1922 Valid Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous Australia Colombia Germany United States Several species have been named, but most may not be diagnostic or belong to this genus File:Platypterigius longmani DB.jpg Plutoniosaurus Efimov 1997 Dubious? Early Cretaceous Russia May be identical to Simbirskiasaurus Proteosaurus Home 1819 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Ichthyosaurus Protoichthyosaurus Appleby 1979 Valid Early Jurassic Switzerland? United Kingdom (England) Has been considered a junior synonym of Ichthyosaurus, but a 2017 study found that it could be distinguished from that genus based on the morphology of its forelimbs File:Protoichthyosaurus NT.png Qianichthyosaurus Li 1999 Valid Late Triassic China A relatively common component of its habitat, known from remains of both juvenile and pregnant individuals File:Qianichthyosaurus.jpg Quasianosteosaurus Maisch & Matzke 2003 Valid Early Triassic Norway Had the largest skull of any Early Triassic ichthyosaur Rachitrema Sauvage 1883 Dubious Late Triassic France Initially believed to be a dinosaur File:Rachitrema.jpg Sangiorgiosaurus Brinkmann 1998 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Mixosaurus Sclerocormus Jiang et al. 2016 Valid Early Triassic China Unusually proportioned with a heavily built trunk, long tail, and small head File:Sclerocormus small.jpg Shastasaurus Merriam 1895 Valid Late Triassic Canada? China? United States A referred species, which was one of the largest marine reptiles, estimated at 21 metres (69 ft) long, has been suggested by several analyses to belong to either this genus or Shonisaurus File:Shastasaurus pacificus restoration.jpg Shonisaurus Camp 1976 Valid Late Triassic United States One of the largest ichthyosaurs yet known. State fossil of Nevada File:Shonisaurus popularisDB.jpg Simbirskia Otschev & Efimov 1985 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Platypterygius Simbirskiasaurus Otschev & Efimov 1985 Valid Early Cretaceous Russia Closely related to Platypterygius Sisteronia Fischer et al. 2014 Valid Early Cretaceous France United Kingdom (England) Its discovery suggests a greater diversity of ichthyosaurs from Early Cretaceous Europe than previously thought File:Sisteronia.png Stenopterygius Jaekel 1904 Valid Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic France Germany Luxembourg Switzerland United Kingdom (England) One well-known specimen proves that ichthyosaur infants were born tail-first, just like cetaceans, to prevent them from drowning before fully clearing the birth canal File:Stenopterygius Horn Final.jpg Suevoleviathan Maisch 1998 Valid Early Jurassic Germany Had uniquely large forefins compared to other ichthyosaurs File:Suevoleviathan SW 1.png Sumpalla Campos et al. 2021 Valid Late Jurassic Argentina Originally thought to be a specimen of Aegirosaurus File:Artistic reconstruction of Sumpalla argentina.jpg Svalbardosaurus Mazin 1981 Dubious Early Triassic Norway Although initially described as an ichthyosaur, it was later suggested to be an amphibian Sveltonectes Fischer et al. 2011 Valid Early Cretaceous Russia Its teeth have an unusual morphology Temnodontosaurus Lydekker 1889 Valid Early Jurassic Belgium Chile? France Germany Italy Luxembourg Switzerland United Kingdom (England) Possibly had the largest eyes of any known animal, rivaling those of a colossal squid in size File:Temnodontosaurus BW.jpg Thaisaurus Mazin et al. 1991 Valid Early Triassic Thailand The first and fifth metacarpals are identical in size File:Thaisaurus chonglakmanii 5.JPG Thalassodraco Jacobs & Martill 2020 Valid Late Jurassic United Kingdom (England) May be closely related to Nannopterygius File:Thalassodraco Scale.svg Thalattoarchon Fröbisch et al. 2013 Valid Middle Triassic United States The apex predator of its ecosystem, filling an ecological role similar to orcas File:Thalattoarchon saurophagis.jpg Tholodus von Meyer 1851 Valid Middle Triassic China? Germany Italy Mainly known from teeth and fragments of jaws File:Tholodus schmidi mandible.jpg Toretocnemus Merriam 1903 Valid Late Triassic Mexico United States Had very large eye sockets and narrow jugals File:Toretocnemus NT.png Typicusichthyosaurus Yin et al. 2000 Jr. synonym? N/A N/A Probably a junior synonym of Guanlingsaurus, but this cannot be confirmed due to poor preservation Undorosaurus Efimov 1999 Valid Late Jurassic Norway Poland Russia Can be distinguished from Ophthalmosaurus by characters of its ischiopubis and teeth File:Ундорозавр (Ихтиозавр (Ichthyopterygia)) Музей палеонтологии. Ундоры. Ульяновская обл. Ноябрь 2013 - panoramio.jpg Utatsusaurus Shikama et al. 1978 Valid Early Triassic Canada Japan The earliest known ichthyopterygian File:Utatsusaurus NT new.png Wahlisaurus Lomax 2016 Valid Early Jurassic United Kingdom (England) Its shoulder girdle is markedly different from that of Eurhinosaurus File:Wahlisaurus NT small.jpg Wimanius Maisch & Matzke 1998 Valid Middle Triassic Switzerland Has been recovered in a variety of phylogenetic positions within the Hueneosauria File:Wimanius Holotype.jpg Xinminosaurus Jiang et al. 2008 Valid Middle Triassic China Has been suggested to be synonymous with Tholodus Xiphodracon Lomax, Massare & Maxwell 2025 Valid Early Jurassic United Kingdom (England) Probably closely related to Hauffiopteryx File:Xiphodracon (holotype, ROM VP52596).jpg Yasykovia Efimov 1999 Jr. synonym N/A N/A Junior synonym of Nannopterygius

See also

• Ichthyosaur
• Ichthyopterygia
• List of dinosaurs
• List of mosasaurs
• List of plesiosaurs
• List of pterosaurs
• List of ichthyosaur type specimens
• Timeline of ichthyosaur research

External links

• USMP Berkeley's ichthyosaur introduction
• Ryosuke Motani's detailed Ichthyosaur homepage, with vivid graphics
• Eureptilia: Ichthyosauria - Palaeos
• Ichthyosauria - cladogram (Mikko's Phylogeny Archive)
• Hauff Museum, Germany - exhibiting the finds of Holzmaden
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