🔗 Share this article Remains Uncovered on British Shoreline Constitutes Unique 'Sword Dragon' Type Sea dragon specialists alongside the 185m year old fossilized remains A nearly complete fossilized frame found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast has been identified as a previously unknown kind of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the oceans. This marine creature ichthyosaur has been designated Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "blade serpent of Dorset" and represents the sole documented specimen of its kind. The skull of the "blade serpent" displays a massive eye socket and marks that suggest it may have been attacked by another bigger ichthyosaur Researchers state that marks on its skull indicate the "blade serpent" may have been fatally wounded by a attack to the head, potentially inflicted by a much larger species of ichthyosaur. Initially found by a experienced fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the recently identified ichthyosaur was subsequently acquired by a museum in Canada. Only in recent times been completely studied by experts and a paper published identifying it as a previously unknown type of ichthyosaur. "I carefully considered about the name," said ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the paper classifying the fossil as a new species. "The name Xiphodracon means sword-like dragon and that is in reference to that very long, sword-like nose, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years." Here is what ichthyosaurs may have appeared. This particular species is a shonisaurus which could grow to more than 15 metres long. Prehistoric Ocean Creatures Ichthyosaurs are classified as marine reptiles, rather than dinosaurs, because they spent their lives in the water. This particular ichthyosaur is thought to have swum the seas about 185 million years ago, a period from which extremely rare ichthyosaur fossils have been discovered. "In this period ichthyosaurs are extremely uncommon, and Xiphodracon is the best preserved individual ever found from there, contributing to close a gap," Dr Lomax said. "It's a missing piece of the puzzle in ichthyosaur evolution." Unique Characteristics The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m long and has multiple features that have not been seen in other types of ichthyosaur. Researchers report the most unusual detail is a prong-like bone near its nose opening Its head has an exceptionally large eye socket An extended sword-like snout that it used to eat fish and squid Existence and Demise There are also clues as to how this particular individual lived and died. "The limb bones and teeth are malformed in such a way that indicates serious injury or illness while the animal was still alive," stated study co-author Dr Erin Maxwell. "Its head appears to have been bitten by a sizeable hunter - likely another considerably bigger species of ichthyosaur - providing a reason for demise for this individual. Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a risky situation." The discoverer found the 'sword dragon' in rock formations at Golden Cap in Dorset after a storm Finding and Study The specimen was found in 2001 by fossil hunter Chris Moore and then obtained by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada where it required more than 15 years to be fully analyzed. "I don't mean to boast but I have found a number of them," Mr Moore said. The precise count he's unearthed is somewhere in the region of 15, with several of them, including the "sword dragon", proving to be previously unknown types. Mr Moore says he is intending to commemorate the new discovery but has not yet determined precisely what form the recognition will take. "Champagne or a mug of tea, I'm undecided at this moment," he commented. This remarkable discovery is among many ichthyosaur fossils that have been discovered along Dorset's Jurassic Coast since the first discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.