The fossilised remains of a second giant jawbone have been discovered on a beach in Somerset, UK, belonging to a new species of ichthyosaur estimated to be over 25 metres long. Found by father-daughter duo Justin and Ruby Reynolds, along with leading ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax, the bones have been identified as a unique find due to their size and structure. Additional pieces of the jawbone were found over time, fitting together perfectly to reveal a fascinating piece of prehistoric history.
The research team, led by Dr Lomax, named the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis, and dated the bones to 202 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period. This was a time when giant ichthyosaurs swam the seas alongside dinosaurs on land, before eventually going extinct in a global mass extinction event. The discoveries of these giant jawbones are unique among known giant ichthyosaurs, representing the last of their kind and showing the final chapter of their existence in the fossil record.
Further examination of the bones’ internal structure confirmed their ichthyosaur origin and the fact that the animal was still growing at the time of death. Master’s student Marcello Perillo from the University of Bonn, Germany, conducted the research and highlighted the unique histological characteristics of giant ichthyosaur lower jaws. This work sheds light on the bone development strategies that allowed late Triassic ichthyosaurs to reach such enormous sizes, revealing new insights into these mysterious prehistoric creatures.
The findings of Ruby, Justin, and Paul will soon be on display at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, showcasing their significant contributions to the scientific understanding of prehistoric marine reptiles. The research team’s work, published in the journal PLOS ONE, highlights the importance of these discoveries in expanding our knowledge of ancient marine ecosystems and the incredible diversity of life forms that existed during the Triassic Period. The possibility of finding more complete remains of these giant ichthyosaurs in the future adds to the excitement and potential for new discoveries in the field of paleontology.
