Platypterygius fossil map
Where fossils of Platypterygius have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 100 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 100 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Ichthyosaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 161.5–93.9 million years ago (Oxfordian to Cenomanian) |
| Periods | Jurassic, Cretaceous |
| Family | Ophthalmosauridae |
| Named by | von Huene 1922 |
| Fossil records | 62 occurrences at 46 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Australia, France, United States, Chile, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand … |
| Rock formations | txn:170908, Toolebuc, Zapata, Marnes bleues, Mowry Shale, Paja |
About Platypterygius
Platypterygius (meaning "flat fin") is a historically paraphyletic genus of platypterygiine ichthyosaur from the Cretaceous period. It was historically used as a wastebasket taxon, and most species within Platypterygius likely are undiagnostic at the genus or species level, or represent distinct genera, even being argued as invalid. While fossils referred to Platypterygius have been found throughout different continents, the holotype specimen was found in Germany.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Platypterygius (revision 1375609729), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q134603.
