Shastasauridae

Shastasaurs were an early group of ichthyosaurs, living 230-210 million years ago, in the Triassic period. They had big heads with a long snout. They had reduced or no dorsal fins. Shastasaurs were the largest of all ichthyosaurs.

One species of the Western American shastasaurid, Shonisaurus, grew to 23m long. Shastasaurs ate fish and other small aquatic animals, like ammonites. This group included the genera Shonisaurus, and Shastasaurus.