An Ichthyosaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) with gastric contents from Charmouth, England: first report of the genus from the Pliensbachian

A well preserved ichthyosaur specimen from the paleontology collection of Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, England is described with a focus on the gastric material scattered around the ribs and throughout the matrix. The gastric material comprises coleoid cephalopod hooklets. The ichthyosaur has been dated from the Pliensbachian Stage of the Lower Lias rocks of the Charmouth coastline, Dorset, England. The specimen is identified as Ichthyosaurus sp. and thus extends the geologic range of the genus into the Pliensbachian. The specimen comprises a complete skull, articulated vertebrae, ribs and a fully articulated forefin. The specimen may also contain coprolites preserved within the posterior end of the matrix.