Researchers from the UK have recently pieced together clues from fossil fragments that point to a potentially enormous discovery—a new species of marine reptile that could have been one of the largest ever. Dr. Dean R. Lomax and his colleagues shared this revelation in a recent study from the University of Bristol and University of Manchester, which was published in the peer-reviewed science journal PLOS ONE.
The remains of an Ichthyotitan severnensis, possibly the largest marine reptile ever, washed ashore. - (Image Credit: Sergey Krasovskiy, CC-BY 4.0)
The story of this discovery begins in the Westbury Mudstone Formation in Somerset, UK, where over the past few years, Dr. Lomax’s team unearthed fragments of an ichthyosaur jawbone. This fossil was strikingly similar to another jawbone found nearby. Through careful analysis, the researchers concluded that these bones likely belonged to an as-yet-unnamed species of ichthyosaur—a type of large, ocean-dwelling reptile that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Dubbed Ichthyotitan severnensis, this new species could have been a staggering 25 meters long—about twice as long as a city bus. But it’s important to note that this estimate is based on limited remains, primarily jawbones, so further evidence is needed to confirm just how massive this creature was.
More on the subject of dinosaurs: It turns out that the T. Rex must have been even more terrifying than previously thought - Here is why (Universal-Sci)
Ichthyosaurs are fascinating creatures that looked somewhat like today’s dolphins and first appeared about 250 million years ago. Over time, they evolved into various sizes, with some reaching up to 15 meters long. By about 200 million years ago, during the Late Triassic period, the largest ichthyosaurs emerged, including the newly described Ichthyotitan severnensis. Unfortunately, these giant ichthyosaurs didn’t survive past the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event 200 million years ago.
Dr. Lomax shares his enthusiasm: “In 2018, my team studied a giant jawbone, and we always hoped another would surface. Now, we have not just another, but a better-preserved specimen that adds a new chapter to our understanding of these magnificent creatures. It’s quite remarkable to imagine these gigantic, blue whale-sized reptiles swimming in ancient oceans near what is now the UK.”
The discovery of Ichthyotitan severnensis offers a tantalizing glimpse into the past and suggests that more secrets lie buried in the rock formations of Somerset. Who knows? Perhaps one day, a complete skeleton of this colossal creature will emerge, offering even more insights into the life of the giants that once dominated the seas.
If you are interested in more details about the research, be sure to check out the paper published in PLOS ONE, listed below
Sources and further reading:
The Proto-Wing Puzzle: How Dinosaurs Shaped the Future of Flight (Universal-Sci)
Why were there so many dinosaur species? (Universal-Sci)
Scientists discovered that the total number of T-rexes that once roamed the earth might be in the billions (Universal-Sci)
It turns out that the T. Rex must have been even more terrifying than previously thought (Universal-Sci)
Dinosaur Killing Asteroid Hit in Exactly the Wrong Place (Universal-Sci)
The last giants: New evidence for giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaurs from the UK (PLOS ONE)
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