202 Million Year Old Ichthyosaur Claimed to be the Largest Marine Reptile in the World

LONDON – A new species of Ichthyosaur that lived 202 million years ago may have taken the title largest marine reptile ever existed. Estimates based on jawbone discoveries suggest it reached about 25 meters (82 ft) in length, comparable to a modern blue whale.

As reported by IFL Science, this new species in science is called Ichthyotitan severnensis, which means “giant fish lizard from the Severn”.

The discovery story begins in 2020, the hottest year yet, when father and daughter team Justin and Ruby Reynolds discovered a fossilized jawbone.

They were hunting for fossils along the Blue Anchor in Somerset when Ruby, then 11, found the first piece, and subsequent discoveries completed their collection. They contacted ichthyosaur expert Dr. Dean Lomax, of Rutland Sea Dragon fame, to identify their find.

Luckily, their fossils complement the 2016 discovery of another giant jawbone by paleontologist Paul de la Salle at Lilstock, not far from where the Reynolds family was searching. This additional material gives scientists the information they need to describe this new prehistoric sea monster.

Ichthyotitan severnensis is estimated to have been about 25 meters (82 ft) long, comparable to a modern blue whale.

The jawbone fossil was discovered by father and daughter team Justin and Ruby Reynolds in 2020 in Somerset, England. Paleontologist Dr. Dean Lomax helped identify this new species.

Importance: This discovery shows that Ichthyosaurs were the top predators in the oceans of their time and provides new insights into the evolution of marine reptiles.

(wbs)