Giant Marine Reptile Challenges Blue Whale’s Size

A newly identified marine reptile species may have been the largest to ever inhabit the world’s oceans. Dubbed the “giant fish lizard,” this creature existed over 200 million years ago and could rival the size of the blue whale.

Ichthyosaurs, a diverse group of marine reptiles from the dinosaur era, resemble a mix between a fish and a dolphin, with sizes ranging from about 2 to 20 meters (6.5 to 66 feet).

However, recent discoveries indicate that an even larger creature may have prowled the ancient seas.

Ichthyotitan severnensis, the Giant Fish Lizard of the Severn

The newly discovered species has been named Ichthyotitan severnensis, translating to “giant fish lizard of the Severn,” referencing a nearby river.

It certainly lives up to its name, with researchers estimating its length to be up to 25 meters (82 feet). This places it in the same size category as the blue whale, making it the largest known marine reptile and among the largest animals ever.

Beyond Length in the World of Giant Creatures

While length is a significant measure of size, it’s not the only factor. The Patagotitan is considered the largest land animal, stretching 37 meters (121 feet) in length.

However, much of its size is attributed to its long neck and tail, weighing in at around 70 tons, less than a quarter of a blue whale’s weight. With a body shape resembling that of a whale, Ichthyotitan could also be a contender for the title of heavyweight champion.

The researchers have not yet determined the weight of Ichthyotitan and emphasize that its length remains subject to debate until additional fossils are discovered. Currently, knowledge of Ichthyotitan is based on two jawbone specimens.

The first was found in 2016 on a Somerset beach in the UK by fossil enthusiast Paul de la Salle.

Although scientifically described in 2018, researchers refrained from naming it as a new species until more evidence was available.

Justin and Ruby Reynolds Uncover Another Giant

Their patience paid off when a few years later, a father-daughter fossil-hunting duo, Justin and Ruby Reynolds (with Ruby being just 11 years old at the time), discovered a similar massive bone a short distance from the first discovery site.

Collected between 2020 and 2022, this new jawbone measured over 2 meters in length—equivalent to the entire body length of some other ichthyosaur species.

This discovery gave researchers the confidence to officially declare a new species, but further fossil findings are required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the creature.

“This new specimen is more complete and better preserved, revealing two of these distinctive surangular bones with a unique shape and structure,” stated Dr. Dean Lomax, a study co-author. “These jawbones offer intriguing evidence, suggesting that we may one day discover a complete skull or skeleton of one of these giants. You never know.“

Currently, the team estimated Ichthyotitan’s length using a scaling factor formula, comparing the bone length to the total body length across various ichthyosaur species.

A Bone Larger Than Shonisaurus in Ichthyotitan severnensis

The researchers observed that this bone was approximately 25% larger than the equivalent bone in Shonisaurus, another giant ichthyosaur measuring around 21 meters (69 feet) in length.

Based on this ratio and comparisons with other species, the team calculated a body length for Ichthyotitan ranging between 20 and 26 meters (65.6 and 85.3 feet).

Ichthyotitan severnensis and the Late Triassic Epoch

The massive creature existed approximately 202 million years ago during the Late Triassic period, marking the culmination of around 50 million years of ichthyosaur evolution.

However, its dominance was short-lived, as giant ichthyosaurs vanished from the fossil record at the onset of the Jurassic period, roughly 200 million years ago.

While smaller species continued to exist until about 90 million years ago, they eventually succumbed to competition from long-necked plesiosaurs, formidable mosasaurs, and other marine reptiles.

Hopefully, additional fossil discoveries will allow scientists to further determine the true size of these creatures.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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