Fossils of a newly-discovered species have been discovered in the UK. Called the "British ichthyousaur," researchers believe that the fossils collectered were from over a century ago.
Reports say that the British ichthyosaur lived during the Jurassic Period approximately 200 million years ago. The collected fossils have been subjected to research for several years, yet a definitive conclusion remains forthcoming. Current reports on those fossils led to the confirmation that it's an ichthyosaur.
Researchers claim that the newly-discovered ichthyosaur were fierce predators that can grow up to 15 meters long. The research was led Dean Lomax, a scientist at University of Manchester in the UK and Judy Massare, a professor at Brockport College in the US.
The researcher's conclusion was based on the features found in the skull and fins of the fossils, which were found to be different from the other species.
It is reported that the study was carried for full six years in order to conclude that the collected fossils were of the new species of the Jurassic reptiles, which lived millions of years ago when the UK was no more than just islands.
"Ichthyosaurs, with their similarities to both modern fish as well as dolphins, are among the more arresting and captivating fossil specimens known. We are in fact very lucky to have two such specimens on display in the Wills Memorial Building, as part of the University Of Bristol School Of Earth Sciences Collection," said Jonathan Hanson, from University of Bristol.
As per the reports, the collected ichthyosaur fossils have been on display at the University of Bristol and for many years, the species was unidentifiable. The researchers who found that the species to be that of an ichthyosaur are reported to have been amazed on their discovery.
It is reported that the collected fossils, coded as specimen 25300, which comprises of a complete skeletal system of the large British ichthyosaurus, was donated to the University of Bristol around 80 years ago by the City Museum in 1930. It is reported that the skeletal system was part of the Chaning Pearce Collection purchased by the museum in 1915.
