Scientists have identified a new species of ichthyosaur, a prehistoric marine reptile from the Jurassic period, following the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved skeleton on Britain’s Jurassic Coast, they announced on Friday.
The newly identified species, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, meaning “Sword Dragon of Dorset”, was comparable in size to a dolphin and dates back around 190 million years, to the Pliensbachian period.
The fossil was found near Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001 but was only recently analysed in detail by palaeontologists from the University of Manchester.
According to the research team, led by Dr. Dean Lomax, a leading ichthyosaur expert and honorary research fellow at the university, the specimen represents the only known example of its kind and fills an important gap in the evolutionary record of ichthyosaurs.
“This discovery helps us better understand the diversity and development of ichthyosaurs during the early Jurassic period,” Lomax said.
The fossil includes a near-complete skeleton, featuring a long, sword-like snout and a large eye socket, suggesting the creature was a swift and agile predator that fed primarily on fish and squid.
Measuring about three metres in length, the Sword Dragon would have been a dominant presence in ancient seas that once covered much of what is now southern England.
Although ichthyosaurs are often mistaken for dinosaurs, scientists clarify that they were marine reptiles that lived entirely underwater. Their streamlined bodies and powerful tails made them highly efficient swimmers, the oceanic equivalents of modern dolphins.
The findings were published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology and have been hailed as a significant addition to Britain’s long history of fossil discoveries.
The newly classified skeleton is set to go on public display at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, later this year.
Source: AFP
Written By Rodney Mbua
