Pistosaurus

Pistosaurus is an extinct genus of pistosaurid marine reptiles that lived during the Middle Triassic. It is considered an early member of the ichthyosauriforms and a close relative of the later ichthyosaurs. Fossils have been recovered from Europe, particularly from the Muschelkalk deposits of Germany. The best-known species, Pistosaurus longaevus, is the type species.

Pistosaurus appears to have been a medium-sized animal, with estimates placing its length in the range of about 2 to 3 meters. Its skeleton shows a mix of primitive and derived features: a relatively long neck and trunk, a lightly built skull, and limbs that were increasingly modified into broad paddles. The tail was probably not as deeply forked as in later ichthyosaurs, indicating an earlier stage in aquatic adaptation.

Ecology and paleobiology: Pistosaurus inhabited shallow coastal seas and likely hunted small fish and invertebrates. Its anatomy suggests it spent substantial time in the water, using paddle-like limbs for propulsion and steering.

Taxonomy and significance: Pistosaurs are placed within Ichthyosauriformes; in many classifications they are distinguished as the family Pistosauridae. The genus is important for understanding the transition from more generalized Triassic reptiles to the highly specialized marine reptiles that followed, illustrating the early evolution of ichthyosaurs after the end-Permian extinction.