Russian Scientists Named a Prehistoric Fossil Called Ichthyosaurs after Vladimir Lenin

Russian Scientists, in the last week of March 2013, announced that a prehistoric fossil was named after the Russia's Communist revolution hero- Vladimir Lenin. The prehistoric fossil is named Leninia Stellans.

In a similar affair in the past, the U.S. paleontologists had named ancient toothy lizard after the name of President Barack Obama.

Leninia Stellans was the name that was agreed upon collegially. The ichthyosaur fossil was dug out several years ago near Ulyanovsk’s village. Leninia Stellans name suggested that it was a unique species of ichthyosaurs. Ichthyosaurs is the marine lizard which was found in sea in Mesozoic era between 251 million and 65 million years ago.

The skull of Ichthyosaurs was more than one meter or 3.3 feet long. On looking at its exterior, it appeared like the dolphin of modern era. It fed on mollusks and fish.