Keichosaurus fossil in walnut frame
(245-208 million years old)
The keichousaurus, a small, early reptile growing up to a circa 30cm in length, represents the amphibious transition between land-dwelling and fully marine reptiles; they could swim easily, using the tail for propulsion and the legs for paddles, but the size of the bones in the limbs and apparent strength of the hips and shoulders suggest that they were equally at home walking on land.