This is Baptanodon, an ichthyosaur which lived during the late Jurassic Period about 160-155 million years ago. During this time, the central part of North America was covered with a body of saltwater known as the Sundance Sea, and Baptanodon was one of the creatures that swam in this inland ocean. It measured 15 feet long, it had freakishly huge eyes, and, as far as I have been able to learn so far, it had small teeth only in the front half of its mouth while the rear half was completely toothless. The presence of grooves running along the sides of its jaws indicate that it probably had lips and the teeth would not have been visible when the mouth was closed.
Baptanodon was closely related to the European ichthyosaur Ophthalmosaurus. In fact, for a while it was believed that Ophthalmosaurus and Baptanodon might be the same animal. However, phylogenic studies indicate that they are indeed separate.
Baptanodon shared its habitat with numerous other forms of marine life including oysters, ammonites, belemnites, hybodont sharks, as well as the 18 foot long plesiosaur Pantosaurus and the 25 foot long pliosaur Megalneusaurus.
This drawing was made on printer paper with No. 2 pencil, Crayola colored pencils, and Prismacolor colored pencils.
Baptanodon natans. © Jason R. Abdale (August 12, 2020).
UPDATE: I’ve re-done my Baptanodon illustration which I made in 2020. The earlier illustration was based upon a skeletal drawing, while the new image was based upon an actual fossilized skeleton on display in the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The updated image is sleeker, more streamlined, and has a larger and more strongly-forked tail. The overall shape of the creature reminds me of a modern-day swordfish or marlin, and I’d bet that this guy was FAST!
Baptanodon natans. © Jason R. Abdale (June 29, 2025).
Keep your pencils sharp, people.
Categories: Paleontology, Uncategorized
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 
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