Image from page 133 of "Water reptiles of the past and present" (1914) (14586546797)

Identifier: waterreptilesofp1914will

Title: Water reptiles of the past and present

Year: 1914 (1910s)

Authors: Williston, Samuel Wendell, 1851-1918

Subjects: Aquatic reptiles

Publisher: Chicago, Ill., The University of Chicago Press

Contributing Library: Boston Public Library

Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

Text Appearing Before Image:

he sums received for themadding not a little to the income of the quarrymen. So many areobtained in this and other ways that specimens of ichthyosaurs 122 WATER REPTILES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT are perhaps more frequently seen in the museums of the worldthan those of any other extinct backboned animal. Fairly com-plete skeletons may now be purchased of dealers in such things forfrom fifty to seventy-five dollars. As may be supposed, the bestand most complete collections of these fossil remains are those ofthe British Museum in London and the museum in Stuttgart.From a study of those of the last-mentioned museum ProfessorFraas has learned many interesting facts and reached many inter-esting conclusions regarding the life-habits of the ichthyosaurs.In the accompanying figure (Fig. 59) is shown a photographicreproduction of a very complete specimen, in which not only isthe outline of the whole body shown, but also much of the carbon-ized remains of the muscles and skin has been detected.

Text Appearing After Image:

Fig. 59.—Ichthyosaurus quadricissus. (From a photograph from B. Hauff,Paleontologisches Atelier, Holzmaden.) The attachment of the paddles to the body was broad antero-posteriorly, proving conclusively that they could not have beenmuch used in propulsion, either in the water or upon land, sincesuch use would require a fore-and-aft movement, and a consequenttwisting or rotation of the whole arm or leg, which, because of thebroad attachment, must have been very difficult, if not impossible. Microscopic examination of the remains of skin preserved dis-closed an abundance of dark pigment, indicating. Professor Fraasbelieves, that the skin was dark colored above. Doubtless, also,the under side, as in nearly all swimming animals of the presenttime, was of a lighter color, because such coloration rendered theanimals much less conspicuous in the water when seen either fromabove or below. That the skin was bare is proved by many impres- ICHTHYOSA URIA 123 sions or molds of it that have been

stenopterygius fossils water reptiles of the past and present 1914 book illustrations fossils paleontology natural history animals images from internet archive

1914

Image from page 133 of "Water reptiles of the past and present" (1914)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

public domain