New fossils found along the English coastline have been identified as a distinctive species of the well-known sword dragon, a marine reptile that dominated the seas during the Jurassic era.
The nearly complete ichthyosaur fossil, named Siphodracon Golden Capensis or the ‘Dorset Sword Dragon’, was unearthed from the Jurassic coast in this quiet part of England.
This fossil, first uncovered in 2001, changed hands between museums until specialists finally examined it this year. It turned out to be a new species of ichthyosaur, Xiphodracon goldencapensis, as detailed in a study published recently.
Ichthyosaurs resembled a blend of a shark, a barracuda, and a swordfish. The specimen discovered in Dorset had marks on its skull that indicate it might have fallen victim to a predator’s bite, according to the research team.
Scientists point out that ichthyosaurs are different from regular dinosaurs, as they lived exclusively in water. This specimen is believed to be around 185 million years old, predating the major population increase of the species.
“This piece fills a gap in our understanding of ichthyosaur evolution,” remarked Dr. Dean Lomax, one of the authors of the study.
The newly recognized reptile was about 3 meters long and exhibited features uncommon to most ichthyosaurs, like a pronounced snout near its nostrils, a large eye socket, and a pointed snout used for hunting.
Dr. Erin Maxwell, also a co-author, noted, “The limbs show signs of damage or disease, indicating the animal did suffer while it was alive.”
Numerous ichthyosaur fossils have been found along Dorset’s Jurassic coast over the years. Chris Moore, the fossil hunter credited with finding Siphodracon goldencapensis, humorously claimed, “I don’t want to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet, but I’ve come across a few ichthyosaurs.” Since that initial find, he has uncovered 15 more.
Moore has plans to celebrate this achievement, perhaps with “champagne or just a mug of tea.”
In another 2023 discovery, researchers identified additional fossils from the same Jurassic coast as a “sister” species to modern crocodiles, albeit without front legs. This species, Turnersuchus Hingleae, existed alongside Siphodracon Golden Capensis but was typically about 1 meter smaller.
