Taphonomy and paleoecology of Shonisaurus popularis (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria)

Abstract

Remains of the ichthyosaur Shonisaurus popularis are sufficiently abundant and well preserved in the Upper Triassic Luning Formation of Nevada to allow paleobiologic inferences to be drawn from taphonomic data. In Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, Shonisaurus popularis fossils define both a scattered-element taphofacies and an articulated-skeleton taphofacies. Because these taphofacies reflect disparate depositional environments, each provides unique paleoecologic information