In a new study, paleontologists have revealed that they have discovered a massive marine reptile that could have been the largest one to roam in the oceans of the Earth.
Largest Marine Reptile
The species was found to be an ichthyosaur, which is a group of marine reptiles that are extinct and that resemble modern-day dolphins. Ichthyosaurs used to inhabit the oceans roughly 250 million to 90 million years ago. Though they were alive by the time that dinosaurs roamed over the Earth, these reptiles are actually not dinosaurs.
Following their first appearance roughly 250 million years ago, ichthyosaurs eventually grew to reach over 49 feet in length within the span of a few million years. By the Late Triassic (201 to 237 million years ago) period's end, the most colossal marine reptiles emerged. These include the newfound species.
The newfound reptile has been dubbed Ichthyotitan severnensis. It is thought to have reached massive proportions, possibly spanning 25 meters in length. This makes it comparable in size to some blue whales.
However, according to the researchers, more evidence is necessary to conclude the prehistoric titan's definitive size, given how its description is just based on two separate jawbones discovered in the UK. The two fossils serve as a representation of a curved and long bone called the surangular, which can be found in the majority of land vertebrates, except mammals, at the lower jaw's top at the back of the teeth.
According to Dean Lomax, a renown ichthyosaur expert, the study's lead author, and a paleontologist linked to the University of Bristol and University of Manchester, ichthyotitan severnensis is the last ichthyosaur species within a long line of species of giant size (over 15 meters). They also think that this is the last species of the Shastasauridae family.
The fossils are from before a global, major extinction event took place. After this event happened, these giants ended up extinct. Ever since, marine reptiles never grew to such massive sizes again.
Read also: Earth's First Giants: Ichthyosaurs Evolved Into Massive Marine Reptiles Faster Than Whales
Fossil Discoveries
One jawbone fossil, which spans over six feet in length, was found on a beach at Somerset county in southwestern England. It was discovered by a team of a father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds.
The duo found the jawbone's first pieces in May 2020 at an area called the Blue Anchor as they were examining the area for fossils. They then realized that they discovered something important. They reached out to Lomax.
Lomax then reached out to Paul de la Salle, a seasoned fossil collector, who also previously discovered another huge but incomplete surangular bone back in May 2016. The discovery was made at an area known as Lilstock, which is a few miles along the Somerset coast from the Blue Anchor. This earlier bone finding was described previously in a 2018 study.
Following the initial Blue Anchor discovery, the family and Lomax went back to the site and discovered more pieces of the jawbone.
Considering how the Lilstock and Blue Anchor are within the Westbury Mudstone geological formation, researchers were able to link the two bones, which were discovered years apart, and find that they actually belonged to a new species of ichthyosaur. The more recently discovered bone has better preservation and is more complete.
Lomax explains that with the two examples of the same bone that have the same distinct features and that are from the same geologic time zone supports their identifications of something that is new. This is especially when it is combined with how the two bones show up around 13 million years after their latest relatives that have been named.
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