The Ultimate Iffyosaur - The Story of an Unusual Ichthyosaur Composite

Explore the fascinating world of ichthyosaurs in this 59-minute virtual speaker series presentation by Ashley Hall, Outreach Program Manager at the Museum of the Rockies. Delve into the intriguing story of a seemingly complete ichthyosaur specimen that turned out to be a composite of multiple skeletons from two different European countries. Learn about these "dolphin-shaped" marine reptiles that dominated the seas for 160 million years and are renowned for their exceptional preservation in the fossil record. Discover the process of fossil forgery and the valuable insights gained from studying these "Frankenstein" fossils. Gain a deeper understanding of paleontological research methods and the challenges faced by scientists in authenticating fossil specimens. Note that a section of the presentation featuring a David Attenborough video has been removed due to copyright, but can be viewed separately at the provided link.