Remains Uncovered on British Shoreline Represents One-of-a-kind 'Sword Dragon' Type

A nearly complete skeleton discovered along the Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a type of ancient marine reptile that once ruled the oceans.

This marine creature ichthyosaur has been designated Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "sword dragon of Dorset" and represents the sole documented example of its kind.

Researchers state that indentations on its cranium indicate the "sword dragon" may have been killed by a bite to the head, possibly inflicted by a significantly bigger species of ichthyosaur.

First discovered by a experienced fossil collector at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was subsequently acquired by a institution in Canada.

Only in recent times been completely studied by experts and a paper published identifying it as a previously unknown type of ichthyosaur.

"I carefully considered about the name," said ichthyosaur specialist Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the study classifying the fossil as a new species.

"Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that is in reference to that extremely elongated, sword-like nose, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years."

Prehistoric Ocean Creatures

These creatures are categorized as marine reptiles, rather than dinosaurs, because they lived entirely in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is believed to have inhabited the oceans about 185 million years ago, a time frame from which very few ichthyosaur fossils have been found.

"In this period ichthyosaurs are extremely uncommon, and Xiphodracon is the best preserved individual ever found from there, helping to fill a gap," Dr Lomax said. "This represents a crucial element of the mystery in ichthyosaur evolution."

Unique Characteristics

The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m long and has several characteristics that have never been observed in other types of ichthyosaur.

• Researchers report the most unusual feature is a fork-shaped bone near its nose opening
• The skull has an enormous eye socket
• A long sword-like nose that it used to consume fish and squid

Life and Death

There are also clues as to how this particular specimen lived and died.

"The limb bones and teeth are abnormally shaped in such a way that points to serious injury or illness while the animal was still living," stated study contributor Dr Erin Maxwell.

"Its head seems to have been bitten by a large predator - probably a different considerably bigger species of ichthyosaur - giving us a reason for demise for this specimen. Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a dangerous prospect."

Finding and Study

The specimen was found in 2001 by paleontology enthusiast Chris Moore and then obtained by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada where it required more than 15 years to be fully analyzed.

"I don't wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet but I have found a number of them," Mr Moore said.

The precise count he's unearthed is somewhere in the region of 15, with several of them, including the "sword dragon", turning out to be new species.

Mr Moore says he is intending to commemorate the recent finding but has yet to decide precisely what form the recognition will take.

"Either sparkling wine or traditional brew, I'm not sure which yet," he commented.

This remarkable discovery is one of numerous ichthyosaur fossils that have been found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast dating back to the first discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.