British paleontologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Somerset, UK, after uncovering the remains of a giant ichthyosaur. The ancient marine reptile is believed to potentially be even larger than blue whales, the largest creatures on Earth.
The team of researchers found a surangular bone in Somerset that is estimated to belong to an ichthyosaur between 22 and 26 meters long. This finding has shed new light on the prehistoric giant, with grown individuals now believed to have reached lengths of over 30 meters, slightly larger than the biggest blue whale.
Interestingly, bones previously misidentified as dinosaurian limbs at Aust Cliff have now been reclassified as parts of the ichthyosaur’s surangular. This has led to the identification of a newly named species, Ichthyotian severnensis, which is believed to have been wiped out during the end-Triassic mass extinction event.
It is believed that the late Triassic ichthyosaurs had reached their maximum size before facing extinction roughly 90 million years ago. They faced competition from other marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs and sharks before ultimately going extinct.
This discovery has opened up new possibilities for researchers to study the evolution and extinction of these fascinating creatures. The team of paleontologists are continuing their research in Somerset, hoping to uncover more secrets about the ancient ichthyosaurs that once roamed the Earth’s oceans. Stay tuned to KP INSIDER for more updates on this exciting discovery.