What ruled the oceans long before sharks or whales? Meet the Ichthyosaurs – marine reptiles that dominated the seas during the Mesozoic Era (250-66 million years ago). Although they lived during the age of dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs are not dinosaurs, but a distinct reptile group only distantly related to them. With long snouts, flipper-like limbs, and sleek bodies, ichthyosaurs ranged from the size of a salmon (3 feet/1 meter) to giants over 65 feet (20 meters)! Some hunted fish and squid, while o