Scientists they discovered a fossil the mysterious marine reptile from 150 million years ago belongs to a previously undiscovered species.
well preserved reptileE was found in a deep Jurassic marine deposit late along the English Channel in Dorset.
Experts say that aquatic reptiles were part of a group known as ichthyosaurs, which were simplified marine predators from the late Jurassic period.
Paleontologist Megan L. Jacobs, a Baylor University doctoral candidate in Geosciences and co-author of a study published in the journal PLUS ONE, said: “This ichthyosaur has several differences that make it unique enough to be its own genus and species.
“New Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs in the United Kingdom are extremely rare, as these creatures have been studied for 200 years.
“I knew it was new almost instantly, but it took about a year to make thorough comparisons with all the other ichthyosaurs in the late Jurassic to make sure our instincts were correct.
“It was very interesting not to be able to find a match.”
Jacobs called the specimen “Thalassodraco Etches“, which means” Great Dragon Etches “- which is a sign sign fossil collector Steve Etches MBE, which found the specimen in 2009 after a rock collapsed along the seashore.
Since its discovery, the specimen has been housed in the Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset.
David, co-author of the study Martill, Ph.D., a professor of paleontology at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, said: “Now that the new sea dragon has been officially named, it’s time to investigate its biology.
4 months ago“There are a number of things that make this animal special.”
creature IIt is estimated to be about 2.5 meters long and appears to share some resemblance to deer semen with an “extremely deep rib cage”.
You may have allowed larger lungs and extra space for the internal organs so that they are not crushed under pressure.
Along with his large eyes, which allowed him to see in dim light, he also had hundreds of tiny teeth – indicating It is the diet may consist of squid and small fish.
Jacobs continued: “They still had to breathe air on the surface and had no scales.
“Almost nothing is known about the biology of these animals.
“We can only make assumptions from the fossils we have, but there is nothing like it today.
“Eventually, in order to adapt to being completely aquatic, they could no longer go ashore to lay eggs, so they evolved into wearing live young, first the tail.
“Skeletons with children were found in the mother and also those who were actually born.”