Scientists have the fossil of one mysterious marine reptile from 150 million years ago belongs to a previously undiscovered species.
The well preserved reptileIt was found in a deep-sea battle from the late Jurassic along the Channel coast in Dorset.
Experts say it aquatic reptiles were part of a group known as ichthyosaurs, which were streamlined marine predators of the late Jurassic period.
P.aleontologist Megan L. Jacobs, a Baylor University doctorate candidate in geosciencses and co-author of a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, said: “This ichthyosaurus has several differences that make it unique enough to be its own genus and species.
New Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs in the UK are extremely rare, as these creatures have been studied for 200 years.
“We knew it was new almost immediately, but it took us about a year to make thorough comparisons with all the other Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs to make sure our instincts were correct.
“It was very exciting not to be able to find a match.”
Jacobs called the copy ‘Thalassodraco etchesi‘, meaning’ Etching sea dragon ‘- which is a nod to fossil collector Steve etches MBE, Who found the copy in 2009 after a cliff crumbled along the coast.
Since its discovery, the specimen has been housed in The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset.
Study co-author David Martill, Ph.D., professor of paleontology at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, said: “Now that the new sea dragon has been officially named, it is time to investigate its biology.
4 months ago“There are a number of things that make this animal special.”
The creature Iis estimated to be about eight feet long, and appears to bear some resemblance to sperm wales with an ‘extremely deep rib cage’.
This may have allowed for larger lungs and extra space for internal organs, so that they were not crushed under pressure.
Along with large eyes, which allowed him to see in low light, he also had hundreds of tiny teeth her The diet can consist of squid and small fish.
Jacobs continued: “They still had to breathe air on the surface and had no scales.
‘Hardly anything is actually known about the biology of these animals.
“We can only make assumptions based on the fossils we have, but there is nothing comparable today.
“To adapt to being fully aquatic, they could no longer go on land to lay eggs, so they evolved to carry live young, tail first.
“Skeletons have been found in babies in the mother and also skeletons that were actually born.”