New Triassic Ophthalmosaurus!

Omphalosauridae are one of the most enigmatic groups of Mesozoic marine reptiles. They were hitherto known only from fragmentary fossils from the Early and Middle Triassic, represented mainly by jaw fragments with characteristic crushing teeth and paleontologists have not been able to determine exactly which group of reptiles omphalosaurids were most closely related to. A new specimen of the marine reptile Sclerocormus from the Early Triassic of South China is identified as an omphalosaurid and provides strong evidence for their close phylogenetic relationship with ichthyosaurs. The new discovery thus solves the over 100-year-old puzzle surrounding the systematic affinity of omphalosaurids.