The fossil of what could be the largest marine reptile ever discovered was unearthed by scientists on a UK beach, shedding more light on the 200 million-year-old sea creature.
The fossil had an uncommon discovery, as the first chunk was spotted atop a rock on the beach, researchers shared in their findings published in the journal PLOS One.
Researchers believe it was discovered by a passerby who found it and put it there for others to admire, unaware it was a newly discovered species.
The findings noted that the creature is a member of the ichthyosaurs group that traversed the seas in the Mesozoic era, which ranged from 251.9 million to 66 million years ago.
However, scientists shared that this newly discovered creature lived on the Earth near the end of the Triassic period, which ranged from 251.9 million to 201.4 million years ago.
The fossil of the new ichthyosaur species was discovered in pieces from 2020 to 2022 at Blue Anchor, Somerset, in the United Kingdom.
In total, the remains of the reptile included a series of 12 fragments from a surangular bone, said to be a part of the beast’s upper jaw. The bone is estimated to be 6.5 feet long, meaning the living animal was close to 82 feet in length.
The sea monster has been named Ichthyotitan severnensis, which means giant lizard fish of the Severn. The scientists shared that they believe it is not only a new species but an entirely new genus of ichthyosaur.
Ichthyosaurs were not themselves dinosaurs, though they did live in the age mainly known for the creatures. Instead, researchers noted that the ichthyosaurs evolved from another group of reptiles, and their evolutionary path is very close to that of whales.
After the bones were uncovered, scientists searched the area in Blue Anchor, finding rib fragments and fossilized feces in the area. However, they have not been attributed to the same animal.
The researchers say that the Ichthyotitan severnensis was most likely the last of the giant ichthyosaurs, though they lived until the Cenomanian Age.