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Ichthyosaurs had traits in common with turtles and modern marine mammals, like blubber and countershading camouflage.

But that countershading pattern depends on the environment — whether an animal lives under direct sunlight on the plains, or in a shady forest, or perhaps by a reflective river.

This appears to have been an example of “countershading,” in which an animal’s coloration counteracts the normal pattern of shadows and brightness created by sunlight.

Vinther has been involved in two studies published in the past 18 months that revealed similar countershading in a small herbivore called Psittacosaurus3 and in the 1.3-tonne armoured ankylosaur Borealopelta4.

Vinther has been involved in two studies published in the past 18 months that revealed similar countershading in a small herbivore called Psittacosaurus and in the 1.3-tonne armored ankylosaur Borealopelta.