A reevaluation and examination of the remains of nine 45-foot (14-meter) ichthyosaurs, of the species Shonisaurus popularisat Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada has led paleontologists to believe that the
Ichthyosaurs were the victims (prey) of the largest squids that ever inhabited the Earth. The findings were reported at the Geological Society of America web site on October 10, 2011.
The evidence that indicates squids caused the death of these famous ichthyosaurs is:
1.The ichthyosaurs appear to have died in deep water not shallow water as previously thought.
2.The vertebrae of the fossil are arranged in a regular geometric pattern.
3.There is evidence of sucker disc marks on the vertebra that resemble the sucker disc of octopus and squids.
4.Modern octopi have been observed to arrange the vertebra of their prey in regular geometric patterns.
This evidence leads paleontologists to consider it possible that a gigantic squid or octopus (the largest ever know) killed the ichthyosaurs and arranged their vertebra in the patterns that have puzzled researchers since the 1950’s.
No physical evidence of squid or octopi have yet been found. Because their bodies are in majority not solid the only park that may have been fossilized is the beak that is used to ingest prey.
The evidence also indicates ancient tales of Kraken are factual and the belief that squid of enormous size that have never been seen by man may very well exist.
Mount Holyoke College paleontologist Mark McMenamin is responsible for this new work.
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