🔗 Share this article Remains Discovered on UK Shoreline Constitutes One-of-a-kind 'Sword Dragon' Type Sea dragon specialists alongside the 185 million year old fossilized remains A nearly complete fossilized frame found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the oceans. The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "blade serpent of Dorset" and represents the sole documented specimen of its kind. The skull of the "sword dragon" displays a massive eye socket and marks that point to it may have been assaulted by another bigger ichthyosaur Scientists report that indentations on its skull suggest the "sword dragon" may have been fatally wounded by a attack to the head, potentially delivered by a significantly bigger species of ichthyosaur. First discovered by a experienced fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was later acquired by a museum in Canada. Only in recent times been completely studied by specialists and a paper published classifying it as a previously unknown type of ichthyosaur. "I thought long and hard about the name," stated ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax, who collaborated on the study identifying the fossil as a new species. "Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that refers to that extremely elongated, sword-like nose, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been called sea dragons for about 200 years." Here is what ichthyosaurs may have looked like. 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. The discovered 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 incredibly rare, and Xiphodracon is the best preserved individual ever discovered from there, contributing to close a gap," Dr Lomax stated. "It's a missing piece of the mystery in ichthyosaur evolution." Distinctive Features The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m in length and has several characteristics that have never been observed in other types of ichthyosaur. Researchers say the most unusual detail is a prong-like bone near its nostril Its head has an enormous eye socket A long sword-like snout that it used to eat fish and squid Existence and Demise Evidence also exists as to how this particular individual existed and perished. "The limb bones and teeth are abnormally shaped in such a way that points to significant trauma or disease while the animal was still alive," stated study co-author Dr Erin Maxwell. "Its head appears to have been attacked by a large predator - probably a different much larger type of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this specimen. Existence in ancient seas was a risky prospect." The discoverer found the 'sword dragon' in rock formations at Golden Cap in Dorset following a storm Discovery and Analysis 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 completely studied. "I don't mean to boast but I have found a few of them," Mr Moore stated. The actual number he's discovered is somewhere in the region of 15, with multiple of them, like the "blade serpent", proving to be new species. Mr Moore says he is planning to celebrate the new discovery but has not yet determined precisely what form the recognition will take. "Champagne or a mug of tea, I'm not sure which yet," he says. The 'sword dragon' is among many ichthyosaur remains that have been discovered along Dorset's Jurassic Coast since the initial findings of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the beginning of the nineteenth century.