12 Questions
What enabled Lomax and his team to confirm that both giant bones belonged to the same species?
The second jaw piece
What is the name of the newly described creature?
Ichthyotitan severensis
Why was the creature named Ichthyotitan severensis?
Due to its location of discovery
Which period did the new fossil come from?
Triassic Period
What part of the animal was the reptile Ichthyotitan known from?
Lower jaw
Why is the Triassic Period a black box for the ichthyosaur fossil record?
Difficulty in finding fossils from that period
What is the significance of the newly discovered species, Ichthyotitan severensis?
It offers a new picture of life during a time and in a part of the world where such giants haven’t been found before.
Why is the Triassic Period considered a black box for the ichthyosaur fossil record?
Because the new fossil comes from the very latest part of the Triassic Period, which is not well-documented in terms of ichthyosaur fossils.
What increases the likelihood that Ichthyotitan is an entirely new species?
All other giant ichthyosaurs discovered before this were found in older rocks in North America and Asia.
What part of the animal was Ichthyotitan known from?
The surangular, which made up part of the lower jaw.
What caution did the paleontologists express regarding the dimensions of Ichthyotitan?
The paleontologists sound a note of caution on the exact dimensions of Ichthyotitan due to it being known only from two bones that made up part of the lower jaw.
Why do scientists need more fossils to determine how Ichthyotitan differed from other ichthyosaurs?
More fossils are needed to suss out exactly how Ichthyotitan differed from other ichthyosaurs because the new species is only known from two bones.
Study Notes
Ichthyotitan Severensis Discovery
- The discovery of a second jaw piece confirms that the giant bones belong to the same enormous species, Ichthyotitan severensis.
- The creature's name refers to its apparent size and the River Severn Estuary, where the second jaw fragment was discovered.
Fossil Significance
- Ichthyotitan severensis is the first giant ichthyosaur discovered in the latest part of the Triassic Period.
- Prior to this discovery, giant ichthyosaurs were only found in older rocks in North America and Asia.
- The discovery of Ichthyotitan severensis provides a new picture of life during a time and in a part of the world where such giants haven't been found before.
Fossil Characteristics
- The jaw bones are six-foot-long, indicating the animal's enormous size.
- The reptile is only known from two bones that made up part of the lower jaw, called the surangular.
- More fossils are needed to determine exactly how Ichthyotitan differed from other ichthyosaurs.
Research and Publication
- The discovery is described in a new paper published in the journal PLOS ONE.
- Paleontologists sound a note of caution on the exact dimensions of Ichthyotitan due to the limited fossil evidence.
Learn about the discovery of the Ichthyotitan severensis fossils, a giant species with well-preserved jaw fragments found in the River Severn Estuary. Discover how scientists identified and named this enormous creature.
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