Fossil discovered on UK coast is exclusive ‘sword dragon’ species

A near-complete skeleton discovered on Dorset’s Jurassic coast has been recognized as a brand new species of ichthyosaur, a kind of prehistoric marine reptile that when dominated the oceans.

The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the “sword dragon of Dorset” and is the one recognized instance of its type.

Scientists say that marks on its cranium counsel that the “sword dragon” could have been killed by a chew to the pinnacle, probably inflicted by a a lot bigger species of ichthyosaur.

First found by a prolific fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001 the brand new ichthyosaur was then acquired by a museum in Canada.

It has solely lately been totally analysed by consultants and a paper revealed figuring out it as a brand new species of ichthyosaur.

“I thought long and hard about the name,” stated ichthyosaur professional Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored authored the paper figuring out the skeleton as a brand new species.

“Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that is in reference to that very long, sword-like snout, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years.”

Ichthyosaurs are categorized as marine reptiles, not dinosaurs, as a result of they spent their lives within the water. This explicit ichthyosaur is believed to have swum the seas about 185 million years in the past, a interval from which only a few ichthyosaur fossils have been discovered.

“During this time ichthyosaurs are incredibly rare, and Xiphodracon is the most complete individual ever found from there, helping to fill a gap,” Dr Lomax stated. “It’s a missing piece of the puzzle in the ichthyosaur evolution.”

The “sword dragon” is believed to have been about 3m lengthy and has a number of options that haven’t been seen in different species of ichthyosaur. Scientists say the strangest element is a prong-like bone close to its nostril. The cranium has an infinite eye socket and an extended sword-like snout that it used to eat fish and squid.

There are additionally clues as to how this explicit specimen lived and died.

“The limb bones and teeth are malformed in such a way that points to serious injury or disease while the animal was still alive, ” stated research co-author Dr Erin Maxwell from the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart.

“The skull appears to have been bitten by a large predator – likely another much larger species of ichthyosaur – giving us a cause of death for this individual. Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a dangerous prospect.”

The ‘sword dragon’ is one among quite a few ichthyosaur fossils which have been discovered alongside Dorset’s Jurassic Coast for the reason that first discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning within the early 1800s.

This “sword dragon” was found in 2001 by fossil hunter Chris Moore after which acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada the place it took greater than 15 years to be totally analysed.

“I don’t wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet but I have found a few of them,” Mr Moore stated on a video name from Dorset.

The really quantity he is unearthed is someplace within the area of 15, with a number of of them, just like the “sword dragon”, turning out to be new species.

Mr Moore says he’s planning to have fun the brand new discovery however has but to determine precisely how.

“Champagne or a mug of tea, I’m not sure which yet,” he says.