The find comes from a slate mine near Holzmaden, Germany. In the Lower Jurassic, the area was covered by a sea, in which the fish lizard died and sank into the depths. At this time, an oxygen-free environment developed on the seabed, which allowed the animal's carcass to be buried completely intact in the mud. The animal, also known as Stenopterygius longifrons, belonging to the order of Ichthyosaurs, resembled modern dolphins, but its tail fin was similar to that of sharks. Its body length could reach 4 meters. Its diet consisted of fish and cephalopods.