A newly-discovered ancient reptile that, according to the researchers, looks like "a cross between a dolphin and a shark" is uncommon enough to be categorized as part of a new animal species.
The study, published in PLOS One, indicates that this discovery lived 150 million years ago and perhaps, "dived deep in the sea to catch squid and other slippery prey."
This ancient reptile, called Thalassodraco etches, had huge eyes and a big rib cage, signifying it had great lung capacity, not to mention the ability to see ocean depths in darkness.
Furthermore, the Thalassodraco etches is said to be an ichthyosaur, a group of non-existing marine reptiles. However, since it is much smaller compared to other species and has other distinctive features, scientists have classified the animal in its own genus.
'Ichthyosaurs'
The ichthyosaur lived during the Middle Triassic period. It took on another marine animal, which was named "thalattosaur."
The length of this lizard-shaped reptile was similar to that of the ichthyosaur, although much skinnier, according to Ryosuke Motani from the University of California, Davis. And, in terms of mass, it was perhaps, only one-sixth, or one-eighth of that of the ichthyosaur.
The animal species was identified from a remarkably well-preserved fossil discovered near Kimmeridge Bay in the United Kingdom.
The name originated from "Thalasso," which means sea in Greek, "Draco," which means dragon in Latin, and "etches," to give honor to Steve Etches, an amateur collector. They, in 2009, discovered the fossil.
Originally known as a plumber, Dr. Etches started to collect fossils from the Kimmeridge Clay over three-and-a-half decades ago. His fossil collecting started when he was five years old when he discovered a flint fossil sea urchin in his back garden.
According to Waco, Texas-based Baylor University's Megan Jacobs, people have been digging "ichthyosaurs" in this place for two centuries already; however, discovering a new species, "let alone a new genus, is very rare."
Jacobs, together with her colleague, UK-based University of Portsmouth's David Martill, captured high-resolution images of the fossil.
Similarity with Dolphins and Sharks
The researchers' analysis showed an unidentified, long-mounted reptile with a tail akin to that of a shark's, and dorsal fin living totally underwater, and would come up for air similar to what the dolphins are doing, explained Jacobs.
Only one side of the jaw of a fossil is visible, and the upper part is better preserved compared to the lower part.
Jacobs elaborated, from this quarter jaw, the pair calculated roughly 50 small, smooth teeth, proposing that the animal has about 200 such teeth, different from most of the late Jurrasic ichthyosaurs, which typically had a smaller number of large, strong teeth.
Perhaps, the expert said, the tiny teeth probably functioned as "cages" or enclosure to trap a victim like a squid, for one.
The animal had strong ligaments as well, across its back, ribs, and neck that might have attached too to the body nodules on its head, making for a firm body and head.
Its eyes were particularly wide for its skull, and its rib cage was notably broad. Even so, Thalassodraco etchesi would have measured only about 2.5 metres long - quite small compared with most other ichthyosaurs from the same epoch, says Jacobs.
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