New Ichthyosaur Species Found on Jurassic Coast
Paleontologists have shed light on the mystery surrounding the intriguing sword dragon skeleton found along Britain’s Jurassic Coast.
According to a press release from the University of Manchester, officials announced that the skeleton, unearthed near Gold Cap in Dorset back in 2001, has been classified as a newly identified species of ichthyosaur.
Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that breathed air and roamed the oceans during the age of dinosaurs, once dominating these ancient waters.
This ancient creature, now named Xiphodracon goldcapensis, or “Dorset sword dragon,” dates back to the Pliensbachian period, roughly between 193 million and 184 million years ago.
Dean Lomax, an honorary research fellow at the University of Manchester, was among the paleontologists to bestow the creature with its name. He expressed that naming a new species is one of the “coolest things” about his role.
“We selected Siphodracon because of its elongated, sword-like snout—’siphos’ meaning sword in Greek—and ‘drakon,’ which is dragon in Greek and Latin,” said Lomax. Interestingly, ichthyosaurs have been referred to as “sea dragons” for over two centuries.
Research indicates that Xiphodracon measured about 10 feet in length and primarily fed on fish and squid.
The fossil also appears to showcase evidence of its last meal, highlighting the exceptional state in which it has been preserved. It’s potentially the most complete prehistoric reptile specimen from the Pliensbachian era.
Experts have been fascinated by this ichthyosaur not only for its unique characteristics but also due to its nearly perfect three-dimensional preservation.
“The skeleton boasts a skull with enormous eye sockets and a long, sword-like nose,” the university notes.
Having intrigued scientists for over two decades, the fossil is now recognized as a crucial finding that fills an important void in our understanding of ichthyosaurs’ evolutionary history.
Lomax first encountered the skeleton in 2016, initially identifying it as an anomaly, but the significance of this discovery in enhancing knowledge about the Pliensbachian period was unexpected.
He referred to Xiphodracon as “the missing piece of the ichthyosaur puzzle,” stressing its vital role in outlining the extinction timeline during a key period when many ichthyosaur families vanished and new ones appeared.
