More Chinese fossils! These are sauropterygians, marine reptiles related to plesiosaurs, from the middle Triassic. Their ungainly name is Keichousaurus hui (gesundheit), which just doesn't do them justice. Look at them: they're gorgeous! And notice the scale bar…the largest was less than a foot long. You could have held these little ladies in your hand!

And yes, they were definitely ladies. Look closely:

The trunk region of NMNS-cyn2002-01 in dorsal view. a, Actual specimen; b, drawing of a. Abbreviations: d, dentary; f, femur; h, humerus; is; ischium; l2sc, scapula of left anterior embryo; m, maxilla; pu, pubis of mother specimen; r1sc, scapula of right posterior embryo; sc, scapula; s1–s3, sacral ribs 1–3; 1, posterior embryo of each side; 1nk, neck region of right posterior embryo; 2, anterior embryo of each side.

It's hard to sort out, but each of these fine fossils has a small clutch of embryonic Keichousaurs nestled inside. It's tragic that such lovely mothers met an abrupt end so long ago.

I don't know about you, but pocket-sized pregnant snake-necked aquatic reptiles bring out the fuzzy-wuzzy maternal instinct in me. I want a pet Keichousaurus!

Cheng Y-n, Wu X-c, Ji Q (2004) Triassic marine reptiles gave birth to live young. Nature 432:383-386.