Live Science, a notable scientific publication, reports that this colossal sea monster is believed to be approximately 200 million years old and belonged to the group of ichthyosaurs, also known as "fish lizards." These creatures thrived during the Mesozoic Era, between 251.902 to 66 million years ago, and were considered apex predators. The recently discovered species, however, appears to have emerged towards the end of the Triassic period, which lasted from 251.9 to 201.4 million years ago.

Although the Mesozoic Era is famously known as the age of dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs were not dinosaurs but evolved from a different group of reptiles. Their evolutionary path closely resembles that of whales, which originated from terrestrial mammals. Like whales, ichthyosaurs breathed air and gave birth to live young.

The new species of ichthyosaur was discovered in pieces between 2020 and 2022 in Blue Anchor, Somerset, UK. The first piece of the fossil was found atop a rock on the shoreline. The researchers published their findings in the journal PLOS One on April 17.

It Had a Massive Body

A total of 12 bone fragments were recovered, all of which were parts of the creature's jaw. Based on these findings, the researchers estimated that the ichthyosaur's jaw was 2 meters long, with the entire body length reaching up to 25 meters.

The research team named the marine behemoth Ichthyotitan severnensis, or the Severn Giant Fish Lizard, after the Severn estuary area where it was discovered. The group believes they have not only discovered a new species but also a representative of an entirely new genus of ichthyosaurs. To date, more than 100 species of ichthyosaurs have been identified.

According to the researchers, the Ichthyotitan severnensis likely belonged to the last group of giant ichthyosaurs. While ichthyosaurs survived until the end of the Cretaceous period, they were eventually overshadowed by the long-necked plesiosaurs.