Soft Tissue Shows Jurassic Ichthyosaur Was Warm-Blooded, Had Blubber and Camouflage
North Carolina State UniversityAn ancient, dolphin-like marine reptile resembles its distant relative in more than appearance. Molecular and microstructural analysis of a Stenopterygius ichthyosaur reveals that these animals were most likely warm-blooded, had insulating blubber and used their coloration as camouflage from predators.