According to foreign media New Atlas, Ichthyosaurs are an intriguing prehistoric aquatic creature because they look a bit like dolphins, but are actually marine reptiles. Scientists have now classified a previously unknown species that is characterized by its ability to dive deep.
The new classification is based on a single fossil skeleton dated to the late Jurassic period, spanning about 163 million to 145 million years ago. British fossil collector Steve Etches discovered the remains on the English Channel coastline in the Dorset region in 2009.
It has since been on display at the Etches Collection Museum in Dorset, where it was recently analyzed by paleontologists at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. When it was discovered that it constituted a new genus and a new species, in honor of its discoverer, it was named Thalassodraco etchesi.
Compared to other ichthyosaurs, this reptile, which is about 6 feet (1.8 m) long, has extremely deep ribs, huge eyes, and small, smooth teeth. These features, respectively, suggest that it can see clearly in dim light, and that it feeds on small prey such as squid. Such characteristics are ideal for long dives into the depths of the dark ocean, where there are plenty of animals such as squids.
In addition, it has unusually short fins and barrel-shaped bodies, which may give it a unique swimming style. Interestingly, the ichthyosaur lineage began with terrestrial lizard reptiles, and as the animals increasingly adopted an aquatic lifestyle, the feet of the ichthyosaurs gradually evolved into fins.
The study was led by PhD students Megan L. Jacobs and Professor David Martill. This is described in a recent paper published in the journal PLOS ONE.