🔗 Share this article Remains Uncovered on British Shoreline Constitutes Unique 'Sword Dragon' Type Sea dragon specialists alongside the 185m year old skeleton A nearly complete skeleton found along the Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new kind of ichthyosaur, a variety of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the oceans. This marine creature ichthyosaur has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "sword dragon of Dorset" and represents the only known example of its type. The skull of the "blade serpent" displays a huge eye socket and marks that suggest it may have been assaulted by a different bigger ichthyosaur Researchers report that indentations on its skull suggest the "sword dragon" may have been fatally wounded by a bite to the head, potentially delivered by a much larger species of ichthyosaur. Initially found by a experienced fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was subsequently obtained by a institution in Canada. It has only recently been completely studied by experts and a research document published identifying it as a previously unknown type of ichthyosaur. "I thought long and hard about the name," stated ichthyosaur specialist Dr Dean Lomax, who collaborated on the study identifying the fossil as a new species. "The name Xiphodracon means sword-like dragon and that refers to that very long, sword-like snout, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been called sea dragons for about 200 years." This is what ichthyosaurs may have looked like. The shown type is a shonisaurus which could grow to more than 15 metres in length. Prehistoric Ocean Creatures These creatures are categorized as marine reptiles, not dinosaurs, because they spent their lives in the water. This particular ichthyosaur is thought to have inhabited the oceans about 185 million years ago, a period from which extremely rare ichthyosaur fossils have been found. "In this period ichthyosaurs are incredibly rare, and Xiphodracon is the most complete individual ever discovered from there, contributing to close a gap," Dr Lomax stated. "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 multiple features that have never been observed in other species of ichthyosaur. Scientists report the strangest feature is a fork-shaped bone near its nostril Its head has an exceptionally large eye socket A long sword-like nose that it used to eat fish and squid Life and Death There are also clues as to how this particular specimen existed and perished. "Its fins and dental structure are abnormally shaped in such a way that indicates serious injury or disease while the animal was still alive," said study contributor Dr Erin Maxwell. "The skull appears to have been attacked by a sizeable hunter - likely a different considerably bigger type of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this specimen. Existence in ancient seas was a risky situation." The discoverer found the 'blade serpent' in cliffs at Golden Cap in Dorset following a severe weather event Finding and Study This "sword dragon" was discovered 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 completely studied. "I don't wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet but I have found a number of them," Mr Moore stated. The actual number he's unearthed is approximately 15, with several of them, like the "blade serpent", turning out to be previously unknown types. The discoverer stated he is intending to commemorate the recent finding but has not yet determined exactly how the celebration will take. "Either sparkling wine or traditional brew, I'm not sure which yet," he commented. The 'sword dragon' is one of numerous ichthyosaur remains that have been discovered along Dorset's Jurassic Coast dating back to the initial findings of trailblazing palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.