An ichthyosaur（鱼龙） fossil may show the earliest live birth from an ancient Mesozoic marine1 reptile2, according to a study published February 12, 2014 in PLOS ONE by Ryosuke Motani from the University of California, Davis, and colleagues. Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles3 that evolved from land reptiles and moved to the water. Scientists report a new fossil specimen4 that belongs to Chaohusaurus , the oldest of Mesozoic marine reptiles that lived approximately 248 million years ago. The partial skeleton was recovered in China and may show a live birth. The maternal5 skeleton was associated with three embryos7 and neonates: one inside the mother, another exiting the pelvis-with half the body still inside the mother-and the third outside of the mother. The headfirst birth posture8 of the second embryo6 indicates that live births in ichthyosaurs may have taken place on land, instead of in the water, as some studies have previously9 suggested.The new specimen may contain the oldest fossil embryos of Mesozoic marine reptile, about 10 million years older than those indicated on previous records. The authors also suggest that live births in land reptiles may have appeared much earlier than previously thought.Dr. Motani added, The study reports the oldest vertebrate fossil to capture the moment of live-birth, with a baby emerging from the pelvis of its mother. The 248-million-year old fossil of an ichthyosaur suggests that live-bearing evolved on land and not in the sea.
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1 marine adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 参考例句： Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是存活在海里的生物。 When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
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