Forgotten rock in Japan reveals 220-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil

A chance glance at a museum display has led to the first-ever discovery of an ichthyosaur fossil in western Japan, dating back around 220 million years. Initially mistaken for a common bivalve fossil, the specimen was revealed to contain 21 bone fragments, including ribs and vertebrae, belonging to a rare Late Triassic ichthyosaur. Experts say this find could reshape understanding of ichthyosaur evolution and their ability to cross the vast Panthalassic Ocean.