Shonisaurus
Show-nee-sore-usTime Period: Norian (Late Triassic) 227-205 Mya
Locations: Nevada-Luning Formation
Taxonomy: Reptilia-Ichthyosauria-Shonisauridae
Subspecies: S. popularis
Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~
Commonly referred to as a sea blimp, Shonisaurus popularis was one of the largest Ichthyosaurs. Growing up to 44-49 ft long and weighing up to 23-32 short tons. Shonisaurus lived in the Panthalassic Ocean, which was the Pacific Ocean in the Late Triassic. Its skull was 9 ft long, mostly due to its long, narrow snout. It had ___ teeth indicating it did not eat hard bodied animals preferring soft bodied animals like cephalopods. I imagine Shonisaurus would have parasitic barnacles over its body like many whales do. I also imagine they took care of their offspring just like whales do, since their offspring would be vulnerable without protection. Unlike most reptiles, they were viviparous, giving live birth rather than laying eggs. Young Shonisaurus had teeth. Shonisaurus went extinct in the Triassic-Jurassic (Tr-J) extinction
History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~
Shonisaurus was uncovered in 1920. There is a potential second species of Shonisaurus S. sikanniesis known from much larger remains with an estimated size of 69 ft long and a weight of 90 short tons. However, it is debated which ichthyosaur genus the species sikanniesis belonging to either Shonisaurus or Shastasaurus
Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~
Jurassic World Evolution 2 Shonisaurus was added in the Marine Species pack, Alongside Nothosaurus, Dunkleosteus and Archelon. There is no squid feeder in the game so Shonisaurus uses the fish feeder even though it’s odd for such a large animal to be eating small fish just like Archelon. Anyways, Shonisaurus has some absolutely beautiful skin variety with surprising colors like bright purple and green. As of right now Shonisaurus is not in Jurassic World Evolution 3 so no baby Shonisaurus.
