A new study has revealed that fossil enthusiasts in Somerset, England have discovered two giant jawbone fossils on a beach. Experts have tentatively identified these fossils as belonging to the same species of giant ichthyosaur, estimated to have been about 25 meters long, surpassing any known marine reptile to date.
In 2016, fossil hunter Paul de la Salle stumbled upon a huge jawbone fossil exceeding 1 meter in length while treasure hunting on a beach in Somerset, southwestern England. Realizing the significance of his find, Paul immediately contacted ichthyosaur expert Dr. Dean Lomax, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester and a researcher at the University of Bristol.
By 2020, a father-daughter duo, Justin Reynolds and Ruby, discovered a similar jawbone fossil in Blue Anchor, which was even larger at a length of at least 2 meters and better preserved than Paul’s previous find, located just 10 kilometers away. They also reached out to Dr. Dean for assistance.
Over the following years, a team led by Dean, including the aforementioned fossil hunters, found more fragments of a second jawbone fossil at Blue Anchor.
Based on the existing evidence, the research team concluded that both jawbone fossils belong to the same species of ichthyosaur, the giant marine reptile that once dominated the oceans during the Late Triassic Rhaetian Age, approximately 202 million years ago.
The researchers named this prehistoric creature “Ichthyotitan severnensis” based on the size and morphological features of the fossils.
“Based on the size of these two jawbones, we estimate the length of Ichthyotitan severnensis to be around 25 meters, comparable to the largest known animal on Earth, the blue whale,” said Dean, the lead researcher. “It was the apex predator in the ancient seas, preying on large marine creatures with its immense body and sharp teeth.”
However, he noted that the current findings only include two jawbones, highlighting the need for more evidence such as a complete skull or skeleton to confirm the exact size of this giant creature.
“Discoveries like this create an incredible moment that highlights how insignificant humans appear in the face of nature; we should approach it with awe and humility,” said Jimmy Waldron, a co-author of the study and a paleontologist from Florida. “The length of a T-Rex’s jawbone exceeds half a meter, yet the jawbone discovered by Ruby and her father measures over two meters. This not only indicates the enormous size of this marine creature but also its formidable bite force.”
Public records indicate that during the Triassic period, giant ichthyosaurs swam in the oceans while dinosaurs roamed the land. However, rock and fossil records suggest that following the mass extinction event at the end of the Triassic period, giant ichthyosaurs disappeared.
The discovery of Ichthyotitan severnensis represents a significant breakthrough in paleontological research, as prior to this finding, scientists had little knowledge of ichthyosaurs exceeding 20 meters in length. This discovery not only fills a gap in paleontological study but also provides crucial insights into our understanding of prehistoric marine ecosystems.
The related research findings were published on April 17 in the journal “PLOS ONE.”