On England’s Jurassic Coast, a remarkable fossil discovery has shed new light on the ancient reptiles that once dominated Earth’s oceans.
A nearly complete skeleton of a previously unknown ichthyosaur species has been identified as Xiphodracon goldencapensis, nicknamed the “Sword Dragon of Dorset.”
The find, published in Papers in Palaeontology, is the only known example of its kind and offers a rare glimpse into a mysterious period of ichthyosaur evolution.
Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs but ruled the seas instead of the land.
Resembling modern dolphins in body shape, they were highly adapted for ocean life, with streamlined forms, large eyes for hunting in dim light, and long snouts filled with sharp teeth.
The newly described Xiphodracon lived around 193 to 184 million years ago during the Pliensbachian stage of the Early Jurassic.
Discovered in 2001 near Golden Cap in Dorset by local fossil collector Chris Moore, the skeleton was so well-preserved that it retained a three-dimensional structure—something rarely found in marine fossils.
The three-meter-long animal had a striking skull with a sword-like snout and enormous eyes, features that suggest it preyed on fish and squid. Remarkably, traces of its final meal may still be preserved within its remains.
For years, the fossil remained in the collections of the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, unstudied.
It wasn’t until 2016 that ichthyosaur specialist Dr. Dean Lomax examined the specimen and recognized its uniqueness.
“I knew it was unusual, but I did not expect it to play such a pivotal role in filling a gap in our understanding of ichthyosaur evolution,” Lomax explained.
That gap relates to a major turnover in ichthyosaur diversity during the Early Jurassic. Several ichthyosaur families went extinct, while new ones emerged, but the timing of this evolutionary shake-up has been poorly understood.
Most ichthyosaur fossils come from before or after the Pliensbachian, leaving scientists with a missing chapter in the fossil record. The Xiphodracon fossil helps pinpoint this transition as occurring earlier than once thought, making it a crucial “missing piece of the ichthyosaur puzzle.”
The skeleton also reveals details about the harsh realities of life in the Jurassic seas. Evidence of injury and disease is visible in the limb bones and teeth, suggesting the animal struggled with health issues during its lifetime.
The skull also bears bite marks from a much larger predator—likely another ichthyosaur—which may have been the cause of its death. As co-author Dr. Erin Maxwell noted, “Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a dangerous prospect.”
One of the most distinctive features of Xiphodracon is an unusual bone near its nostril called a lacrimal, which has never been observed in any other ichthyosaur. This detail, combined with its sword-like snout, inspired its scientific name.
“One of the coolest things about identifying a new species is that you get to name it,” said Lomax, who is also the author of The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs. “We chose Xiphodracon from the Greek word for sword and dracon for dragon, in reference to ichthyosaurs being known as ‘sea dragons’ for over 200 years.”
The discovery not only enriches scientific understanding but also brings public excitement.
Soon, visitors to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto will be able to see the Sword Dragon of Dorset on display—a striking reminder of the extraordinary creatures that once swam in Britain’s prehistoric seas.
Source: University of Manchester.
