AN ANCIENT visitor arrived at Killarney State School on the last day of term.

Students and staff were joined by children from Little Rascals Childcare Centre to view a newly- completed ichthyosaur, a commissioned work for Kronosaurus Korner, at Richmond.

Natural history artist Paul Stumkat generously showed his sculptures of the mother and baby ichthyosaur that were prepared based on real fossils found in the Richmond area.

Mr Stumkat described the ichthyosaur as as a fish-like lizard thought to have originated from the reptile family.

Evidence indicates ichthyosaurs presence within the Richmond area 100 million years ago.

Research on this project began last year with Mr Stumkat starting work on the sculpture in November.

The students were told how the scale model was first made in plasticine, then a polystyrene body was prepared and covered in fibreglass before the finer details were added.

Eyes for the sculpture were prepared based on a turtle's eye, with a tiger shark providing the basis for the colouring and patterning of the ichthyosaur's skin.

Students reflected on the many pieces of new information they had learnt from the visit, including the function of the ichthyosaur's teeth, the origin of many of the words to do with prehistoric creatures and the use of real fossils as part of the sculpturing process.

Students agreed it was a memorable way to end the term. After travelling on the back of Mr Stumkat's utility for the 1600km to Richmond, both the 5m mother weighing 65kg, and the 2m baby sculpture will be suspended from the ceiling of the museum.