Acamptonectes
Acamptonectes is a genus of ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs, a type of dolphin-like marine reptiles. They lived during the Early Cretaceous around 130 million years ago. The discovery of Acamptonectes had significant implications for the evolutionary history of ichthyosaurs.
Acamptonectes Media
Basicranium (A–E), stapes (F–G), and teeth (J–K) of the holotype: The scientific name partially refers to the tightly fitting bones of the occiput; the arrow by the exoccipital (E) shows a notch that would closely fit a bump on the basioccipital.
Nasal bones (A–B), supratemporal (C), and supraoccipital (D–F) of the holotype
Skull and partial neck of SNHM1284-R seen from below, with interpretative diagram
Distinguishing vertebral features; proportionally large neural spine in a dorsal of SNHM1284-R (A), square shape of caudals in same specimen (B), curved lamellae in dorsals of the holotype (C), and cross-section of a rib of NHMUK R11185 (D), showing robusticity and a small groove
Bones of the scapular girdles of SNHM1284-R and the holotype
Forefin elements of NBM1284-R (A–D) and the holotype (E–G)
Basioccipitals from the occiputs of SNHM1284-R (A–F) and the holotype (G–H); extracondylar area is labelled as eca
Left prootic bone of two Acamptonectes specimens (A–E) compared with those of other ophthalmosaurids (F–I)
Right opisthotics of three Acamptonectes specimens (A–G) compared with those of other ophthalmosaurids (H–J)
