Rare soft tissue preservation showing fibrous structures in an ichthyosaur from the Lower Lias (Jurassic) of England

Rare soft tissue preservation of the skin of an ichthyosaur which includes fibrous structures is redescribed. The redescription and reinterpretation of the Lower Lias ichthyosaur specimen GLAHM V1180a given here shows two superimposed layers of fibres extending in opposite directions at angles of ca. 35 degrees to the animal's long axis. This new data contributes to our understanding of the integument of ichthyosaurs, i.e. its strength and possible smoothness. Such information may be significant in interpretations of ichthyosaur locomotion.