Particle.news
Download on the App Store
23 ARTICLES
·
last yr.

New Giant Ichthyosaur Species Discovered, May Rival Blue Whale in Size

A newly identified species of giant ichthyosaur, discovered by a father-daughter duo in Somerset, has been estimated to be as large as 26 meters, potentially making it the largest marine reptile ever known.

Artist's illustration of an Ichthyotitan severnensis carcass washed up on a beach around 200 million years ago. The newly described species may be the largest marine reptile ever to have lived, according to a study.
A giant pair of swimming Ichthyotitan severnensis.
Dr. Dean Lomax, Ruby Reynolds, Justin Reynolds and Paul de la Salle (from left) are shown with the fossil discovery in 2020.
The nearly complete giant jawbone is shown along with the jawbone (middle and bottom) found by Paul de la Salle in 2016.

Overview

  • A fossil discovered in Somerset, England, has led to the identification of a new giant ichthyosaur species named Ichthyotitan severnensis.
  • The ichthyosaur's jawbone measures over 2 meters, suggesting a total body length of up to 26 meters, comparable to that of a blue whale.
  • The fossils, dating back 202 million years, predate a major extinction event that wiped out giant marine reptiles.
  • Histological studies indicate the ichthyosaur was still growing at the time of its death, hinting it could have grown larger than initially estimated.
  • The discovery highlights the significant contributions of amateur fossil hunters to paleontology, underscoring that anyone can make a scientific impact.