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New species of Jurassic 'sword dragon' could help solve an evolutionary mystery

On Oct. 10, researchers published a paper identifying Xiphodracon goldencapensis, the sword dragon of Dorset, as an exceptionally rare, previously unknown ichthyosaur species.
Dated to the Pliensbachian period , the fossil bridges a scarce ichthyosaur record and a faunal turnover around 190 million years ago.
Examination reveals an enormous eye socket and a long, sword-like snout plus malformed limb bones and a skull mark consistent with a bite from the ichthyosaur, Dr Erin Maxwell said.
The original specimen remains in Ontario and the skeleton is planned for display at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, while a second specimen is exhibited at Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre.
Fossil collector Chris Moore recalls finding the skeleton at Golden Cap in 2001, saying, `The end of the tail had washed away but I spotted the vertebrae sticking out and so I got permission to dig` as it wasn't studied until this year due to limited funding.

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Researchers Discover New Species of Marine Dinosaurs

British researchers have reportedly discovered an unknown species of marine dinosaurs. A petrified skeleton (see picture above) of the so-called Jurassic Coast in southern England known as the fossil site has now been assigned to the group of Ichthyosaurians.The new species was named after the site at the Golden Cap on the coast of Dorset Xiphodracon goldencapensis or "Sword Dragon of Dorset", the University of Manchester announced on Friday.It …

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New species of Jurassic 'sword dragon' found in UK

A skeleton found on Britain's Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the seas, scientists said Friday.

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