Exploratory field work in the Lower and Middle Triassic of Svalbard — Diversity and Stratigraphy of Lower and Middle Triassic Ichthyosauria of Svalbard

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We plan to prospect for articulated ichthyosaur material making use of our extensive experience in conducting field work in the Lower and Middle Triassic in the Augusta Mountains of Nevada, USA. The bulk of Triassic ichthyosaurs previously collected in Svalbard consists of isolated finds that had weathered from the sediment layers and were then collected from the surface. However, based on a few more complete specimens found by chance, there is clear evidence for articulated skeletons in the rock. We are convinced that prospecting along the steeper slopes of the fossiliferous horizons — as we do in Nevada — will result in the discovery of articulated ichthyosaurs also in Svalbard. If our approach is successful, we plan to apply for further fieldwork funds and develop this project into a full research agenda. With the new finds, we want to test the hypothesis that large ichthyosaurs with a body length over 5 m had existed already in the Lower Triassic. The Middle Triassic material shall serve for comparison with other faunas of this age from the northern hemisphere. Especially, it should be tested if there was a worldwide radiation of cymbospondylid ichthyosaur taxa, as suggested by the phylogenetic relationships of the finds in the Augusta Mountains.