All articles tagged with #ichthyosaur
In Colchester, UK, a 2nd‑century CE fossil pit yielded an ichthyosaur spinal bone that a Romans-era collector tucked among pottery and spoons; paleontologists say this is the oldest known example of deliberate ichthyosaur fossil collecting, suggesting Romans may have curated fossils perhaps influenced by Greek myths about sea monsters, with a roughly 1,800‑year gap before similar discoveries.
A 240-million-year-old Guizhouichthyosaurus fossil from China preserves the remains of a 4-meter Xinpusaurus xingyiensis in its stomach, providing the oldest clear evidence of megafaunal predation by marine reptiles and suggesting that large prey was common in Middle Triassic oceans.
On a Somerset beach, 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father found jaw fragments dating to about 202 million years ago, leading scientists to name Ichthyotitan severnensis, a colossal ichthyosaur potentially around 82 feet long—the largest marine reptile known—based on skeletal jaw evidence; the discovery, described in PLOS ONE, highlights how citizen science and coastal erosion can rewrite natural history.
An 11-year-old girl’s fossil finds on Somerset’s Blue Anchor coast helped identify Ichthyotitan severnensis, an 82-foot ichthyosaur—the largest known marine reptile of the Triassic—confirmed by a PLOS ONE study and signaling exciting new insights into ancient oceans.
On a Somerset beach in 2020, 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father found jawbone fragments that led scientists to identify Ichthyotitan severnensis, a giant ichthyosaur potentially about 82 feet long. Further fossils confirmed a whale-sized marine reptile from the Triassic, offering insights into ancient oceans and showing how a shoreline discovery can rewrite natural history.
A 190-million-year-old ichthyosaur skeleton nicknamed the Sword Dragon of Dorset, Xiphodracon goldencapensis, is described as a nearly complete Early Jurassic specimen that sheds new light on marine reptile evolution; its discovery helps pinpoint a major faunal turnover in the Jurassic, reveals a sword-like snout and signs of injury, and will join the Royal Ontario Museum for public display.
Archaeologists digging the Melton Mowbray bypass uncovered a 2,000-year archaeological panorama, including two ichthyosaur fossils (one with a heavy snout) moved by glaciers from the Lower Jurassic, six late Neolithic to early Bronze Age cremations, a late Roman farmstead with Mediterranean-style plantations, Anglo-Saxon sunken buildings and loom weights, plus other artefacts, with findings to be displayed in local museums as the road project nears completion.
An 11-year-old girl discovered a fossil in England that led scientists to identify a new giant ichthyosaur species, Ichthyotitan severnensis, potentially the largest marine reptile ever, measuring up to 25 meters long and dating back to the late Triassic period.
A new species of marine reptile called Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or 'sword dragon,' was discovered along England's Jurassic Coast, providing valuable insights into ichthyosaur evolution and Jurassic marine ecosystems during the Early Jurassic period.
A nearly complete 190-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil, dubbed the 'Sword Dragon of Dorset,' was discovered along the UK's Jurassic Coast, filling a crucial gap in our understanding of marine reptile evolution during the Jurassic period. The fossil's exceptional preservation offers insights into the fauna turnover at the time and features unique traits like a long, sword-like snout and massive eyes, aiding scientists in understanding this pivotal era.
A new species of Jurassic-era marine reptile, Xiphodracon goldencapsis, was discovered in England, characterized by a long snout and narrow teeth, indicating a diet of soft prey like squid, and is considered one of the most complete fossils from its period.
Scientists have identified a new species of marine reptile called Xiphodracon goldencapensis, a dolphin-sized ichthyosaur from 185 million years ago, discovered in the UK. The fossil shows signs of a fatal attack by a larger predator and injuries suggesting a tough life, providing new insights into ichthyosaur evolution.
A near-complete skeleton found on Dorset's Jurassic coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis or the 'sword dragon of Dorset.' This dolphin-sized marine reptile, dating back about 185 million years, shows unique features and evidence of a fatal attack by a larger predator, filling a significant gap in ichthyosaur evolution.
A nearly complete fossil of a new Jurassic-era marine reptile, Xiphodracon goldencapsis, was discovered in the UK and provides insights into ichthyosaur evolution and a major faunal turnover during the early Jurassic period, with evidence of predation and disease.
This week’s science news includes the discovery of the first soft tissue remains of a giant ichthyosaur, successful mitochondrial transfer births, observations of matter-antimatter asymmetry, the first Roman-collected trilobite fossil used as a magical pendant, and the first observation of the crystallization process in planet formation around a star 1,300 light-years away, along with a feature on vitamin B12 supplementation.