The skull of an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that resembles a dolphin, is prepared for study after it was found in the Arctic island chain of Svalbard.

Ichthyosaurs, likely once a common prey for larger sea beasts such as pliosaurs, used an upright tail fin to propel themselves through the water. Most ichthyosaurs averaged 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) in length, but some reached 75 feet (23 meters).

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