Sclerocormus: Research Database
Ichthyosauria (Reptilia) · Early Triassic (~250 MYA) · Asia — China (Shaanxi Province)
Research Note: Sclerocormus was an early ichthyosaur from the Early Triassic of China — an important taxon for understanding the early radiation of ichthyopterygians after the Permian-Triassic extinction.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maisch & Matzke 2003: Sclerocormus and new data on Early Triassic ichthyopterygians from China
Maisch & Matzke 2003 describe Sclerocormus from the Early Triassic of China, establishing it as an early ichthyosaur and documenting ichthyosaur diversity in the aftermath of the Permian-Triassic extinction
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Confirmed | A | 2003 | Fossil | Maisch & Matzke, Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen | Diversity |
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Jiang et al. 2003: Additional data on Sclerocormus and Triassic marine reptiles
Jiang et al. 2003 provide additional data on Sclerocormus and related Triassic marine reptiles, further contextualising its significance within Ichthyosauria
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Confirmed | B | 2003 | Fossil | Jiang et al., Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte | Taxonomy |
Active Debate: Early Ichthyosaur Radiation
Whether Sclerocormus represents a basal ichthyosaur or a more derived form is debated. The early evolution of ichthyopterygians after the Permian-Triassic extinction — and the relationships of early forms like Sclerocormus — is key to understanding the recovery of marine ecosystems.
What We Still Do Not Know About Sclerocormus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Growth patterns: Unknown.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Precise relationships: Still debated.
In Depth
Sclerocormus is a genus of primitive ichthyosauromorph that lived in waters around Asia during the early Triassic. As a member of the group that was ancestral to the ichthyosaurs, Sclerocormus itself did not look that much like one. The body of Sclerocormus was quite stout and stocky, while the tail of the animal took up just over half of the total body length. The belly of Sclerocormuswas not as deeply round as later ichthyosaurs, and this feature combined with the straight relatively thin tail have come together to form a creature that lived in shallow waters.
Sclerocormus possessed short jaws that could be opened very quickly. It is thought that the sudden vacuum of the jaws opening could suck nearby animals into the mouth. The jaws being toothless mean that Sclerocormus would have been more suited to hunting soft bodied prey such as cephalopods and other molluscs.
Further Reading
- A large aberrant stem ichthyosauriform indicating early rise and demise of ichthyosauromorphs in the wake of the end-Permian extinction. - Scientific Reports 6:26232:1-9 - D.-Y. Jiang, R. Motani, J.-D. Huang, A. Tintori, Y.-C. Hu, O. Rieppel, N. C. Fraser, C. Ji, N. P. Kelley, W.-L. Fu & R. Zhang - 2016.
