Giant marine reptile species that lived in the Age of Dinosaurs discovered

According to an article published in the journal Plos ONE, scientists examined fossilized jawbones found on the beaches of the Somerset region between 2016 and 2020.

The research determined that the jawbones belong to a new species of ichthyosaur, the longest marine reptile known to date.

Scientists named this new species "Ichthyotitan severnensis" based on the unearthed fossils.

Scientists pointed out that the species lived approximately 202 million years ago, during the same period as the dinosaurs.

'25 METERS LONG'

Dr. Dean Lomax, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol in England and a member of the research team, shared the information: "Based on the size of the jawbones, one measuring one meter and the other two meters, we calculated that the animal could have been 25 meters long."

Lomax stated that they need more evidence to determine the exact size of the newly discovered species.

The blue whale, at approximately 33 meters, is considered the largest animal living on Earth. Scientists believe this species may have been close to blue whales in terms of size.

The fossilized jawbones will be exhibited at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery in England.

News Source: 12punto