🔗 Share this article Remains Uncovered on British Coast Represents Unique 'Sword Dragon' Species Ichthyosaur specialists with the 185m year old skeleton An almost intact skeleton discovered along the Jurassic Coast has been classified as a previously unknown kind of ichthyosaur, a type of ancient 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 only known example of its kind. The skull of the "blade serpent" features a huge eye socket and marks that suggest it may have been attacked by a different larger ichthyosaur Scientists state that marks on its skull indicate the "blade serpent" may have been fatally wounded by a attack to the head, possibly inflicted by a significantly bigger type of ichthyosaur. First discovered by a prolific fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was later acquired by a institution in Canada. Only in recent times been fully analyzed by specialists and a research document published classifying it as a new species of ichthyosaur. "I carefully considered about the name," said ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the paper classifying the skeleton as a novel type. "Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that refers to that extremely elongated, sword-like snout, but also the reality that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years." Here is what ichthyosaurs may have looked like. The shown species is a shonisaurus which could grow to more than 15 metres in length. Ancient Marine Life These creatures are categorized as marine reptiles, not dinosaurs, because they lived entirely in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is thought to have inhabited the oceans about 185 million years ago, a time frame from which extremely rare ichthyosaur fossils have been found. "In this period ichthyosaurs are extremely uncommon, and Xiphodracon is the best preserved individual ever discovered from there, helping to fill a gap," Dr Lomax said. "This represents a crucial element of the mystery in ichthyosaur evolution." Distinctive Features Researchers estimate the creature measured about 3m in length and has several characteristics that have never been observed in other species of ichthyosaur. Scientists report the most unusual detail is a fork-shaped bone near its nose opening Its head has an enormous eye socket A long sword-like snout that it used to consume fish and squid Life and Death There are also clues as to how this particular specimen lived and died. "Its fins and dental structure are abnormally shaped in such a way that indicates significant trauma or disease while the creature was still living," said study co-author Dr Erin Maxwell. "The skull appears to have been bitten by a large predator - probably another much larger type of ichthyosaur - providing a reason for demise for this specimen. Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a risky situation." Chris Moore uncovered the 'sword dragon' in rock formations at Golden Cap in Dorset following a severe weather event Finding and Study This "sword dragon" was discovered in 2001 by paleontology enthusiast 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 discovered is approximately 15, with multiple of them, including the "sword dragon", proving to be previously unknown types. Mr Moore says he is planning to celebrate the recent finding but has yet to decide exactly how the celebration will take. "Champagne or a mug of tea, I'm not sure which yet," he says. This remarkable discovery is among many ichthyosaur fossils that have been discovered along Dorset's Jurassic Coast dating back to the first discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.