A remarkably full skeleton uncovered alongside the UK’s Jurassic Coast has been recognized as a beforehand unknown species of ichthyosaur — a bunch of prehistoric marine reptiles that when dominated the world’s oceans.
The dolphin-sized creature, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis and nicknamed the “Sword Dragon of Dorset,” is the one identified specimen of its species. Its discovery helps shut a significant hole within the fossil file and presents new perception into ichthyosaur evolution.
For greater than two centuries, the Jurassic Coast has yielded hundreds of ichthyosaur fossils, ever since pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning started making historic finds there. Nonetheless, this marks the primary new genus of Early Jurassic ichthyosaur described from the area in additional than 100 years.
Exceptionally Preserved 190-Million-Yr-Previous Fossil
The fossil was discovered close to Golden Cap in 2001 by Dorset collector Chris Moore. Preserved in almost excellent three-dimensional element, the skeleton features a cranium with an enormous eye socket and an elongated, sword-like snout. Researchers estimate the animal measured about three meters lengthy and certain ate up fish and squid. There could even be traces of its closing meal preserved inside the stays. It’s regarded as probably the most full prehistoric reptile ever found from the Pliensbachian interval.
The analysis was carried out by a world staff of paleontologists led by ichthyosaur specialist Dr. Dean Lomax, an Honorary Analysis Fellow at The College of Manchester and an 1851 Analysis Fellow on the College of Bristol. Their findings seem within the journal Papers in Palaeontology.
Dr. Lomax mentioned: “I bear in mind seeing the skeleton for the primary time in 2016. Again then, I knew it was uncommon, however I didn’t anticipate it to play such a pivotal position in serving to to fill a niche in our understanding of a posh faunal turnover through the Pliensbachian. This time is fairly essential for ichthyosaurs as a number of households went extinct and new households emerged, but Xiphodracon is one thing you may name a “lacking piece of the ichthyosaur puzzle.” It’s extra carefully associated to species within the later Early Jurassic (within the Toarcian), and its discovery helps pinpoint when the faunal turnover occurred, being a lot sooner than anticipated.”
Fixing an Evolutionary Thriller
After it was collected in 2001, the skeleton was acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, the place it joined one of many world’s largest ichthyosaur collections. Regardless of its significance, it had remained unstudied till now.
Ichthyosaurs from the Pliensbachian (193-184 million years in the past) are extraordinarily uncommon, making this specimen particularly worthwhile. Scientists have lengthy identified that ichthyosaur species earlier than and after this time interval had been very totally different from each other, though they occupied comparable ecological roles.
Co-author Professor Judy Massare of the State College of NY at Brockport defined: “Hundreds of full or almost full ichthyosaur skeletons are identified from strata earlier than and after the Pliensbachian. The 2 faunas are fairly distinct, with no species in widespread, though the general ecology is comparable. Clearly, a significant change in species variety occurred someday within the Pliensbachian. Xiphodracon helps to find out when the change occurred, however we nonetheless do not know why.”
Proof of Damage and a Violent Finish
The skeleton additionally gives clues concerning the challenges of life in Jurassic seas. In keeping with co-author Dr. Erin Maxwell of the State Museum of Pure Historical past Stuttgart, a number of limb bones and enamel present abnormalities that counsel the animal suffered severe damage or sickness whereas it was alive. The cranium additionally seems to bear chunk marks from a a lot bigger predator — possible one other giant ichthyosaur — which can have triggered its dying.
Dr. Maxwell mentioned: “This skeleton gives vital data for understanding ichthyosaur evolution, but additionally contributes to our understanding of what life should have been like within the Jurassic seas of Britain. The limb bones and enamel are malformed in such a means that factors to severe damage or illness whereas the animal was nonetheless alive, and the cranium seems to have been bitten by a big predator — possible one other a lot bigger species of ichthyosaur — giving us a reason behind dying for this particular person. Life within the Mesozoic oceans was a harmful prospect.”
Distinctive Options and a Becoming Title
Researchers recognized a number of anatomical traits in Xiphodracon which have by no means been documented in every other ichthyosaur. One of the uncommon options is a particular bone close to the nostril (referred to as a lacrimal) that features prong-like projections.
Dr. Lomax, writer of the latest e-book “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs,” mentioned: “One of many coolest issues about figuring out a brand new species is that you just get to call it! We opted for Xiphodracon due to the lengthy, sword-like snout (xipho from Greek xiphos for sword) and dracon (Greek and Latin for dragon) in reference to ichthyosaurs being known as “sea dragons” for over 200 years.”
The examine was revealed within the worldwide journal Papers in Palaeontology. The fossil is anticipated to go on public show on the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.
