Scientists on fossil traces a mysterious sea reptiles from 150 million years ago belong to a previously undiscovered species.
The well preserved reptilit was found in a deep Jurassic Late sea deposit on the English Channel coast in Dorset.
Experts say that the aquatic reptiles were part of a group called ichthyosaurs, which were swift marine predators from the time of the late Jurassic.
P.aleontologist Megan L. Jacobs, Baylor University doctor candidate entered geosciencses and co-author of a study published in the journal PLOS AON, said: “This ichthyosaur has a number of differences that make it unique enough to be its own genus and gender.
“New Jurassic Late ichthyosaurs in the United Kingdom are very rare, as these creatures have been studied for 200 years.
“We knew it was new almost immediately, but it took about a year for a detailed comparison with all Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs to make sure our instincts were correct.
“It was very interesting not being able to find matches.”
Jacobs named the sample ‘Thalassodraco etchesi‘, which means’ Etches sea dragon’ – which is a node fossil collector Steve Etches MBE, Who the sample was discovered in 2009 after the cliff has gone down by the sea.
Since its discovery, the sample has been housed in the Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset.
Co-author of the study of David MartillPh.D., professor of paleontology at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, said: “Now that the new sea dragon has been officially announced, now is the time to study its biology.
4 months ago“There are a number of things that make this animal special.”
The creature is is thought to be about 2.5 meters (eight feet) long, and appears to resemble some sperm wales with a ‘very deep rib cage’.
This may have allowed for larger lungs and more space for internal organs so that they do not compress under pressure.
Along with large eyes, which allowed him to see in low light, there were hundreds of tiny teeth – marking a a diet was probably squid and small fish.
Lean Jacobs: “They still had to breathe on the surface and they didn’t have blades.
“Almost nothing is known about the biology of these animals.
“We can only speculate from the fossils we have, but there is nothing like it today.
“Eventually, to accept being full of water, they could no longer go ashore to lay eggs, so they first became a live young tail.
“A skeleton was found with babies inside the mother and also those who were actually born.”