Leptonectes

Leptonectes is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (Rhaetian - Pliensbachian). Fossils have been found in Belgium, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.^[3][4][5] A possible specimen from Switzerland first reported in 2006,^[6] has been reclassified as that of Hauffiopteryx.^[7] The type species, L. tenuirostris, reached 4 metres (13 ft) long, whereas L. moorei (NHMUK PV R 14370) likely reached 3 metres (9.8 ft) long ^[8]; the largest species, L. solei, was approximately 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) long.^[9][10]

Leptonectes Temporal range: Late Triassic - Early Jurassic, Rhaetian–Pliensbachian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
skeleton of Leptonectes tenuirostris (NHMUK PV R 498)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	†Ichthyosauria
Family:	†Leptonectidae
Genus:	†Leptonectes McGowan, 1996[1]
Species
L. moorei McGowan and Milner, 1999[2] L. solei (McGowan, 1993) L. tenuirostris (Conybeare, 1822) (type species)
Synonyms
Leptopterygius Huene, 1929

L. tenuirostris, Royal Ontario Museum

Life restoration

See also

• Paleontology portal

• List of ichthyosaurs
• Timeline of ichthyosaur research