On the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, the skull of a pliosaur, an ancient marine reptile that ruled the oceans around 150 million years ago, has been unearthed. The 2-meter-long fossil is one of the most complete and detailed examples of its type. A local palaeontologist, Steve Etches, who worked on the fossil claims it is the most complete fossil he has ever worked on, with every bone present, adding that there are hardly any specimens found anywhere to this level of detail.
The pliosaur is believed to have had four powerful flipper-like limbs to propel it at high speed, and it was known to feast on other pliosaurs, as well as other reptiles such as its long-necked cousin, the plesiosaur, and the dolphin-like ichthyosaur. The animal had 130 teeth, which were razor-sharp and able to pierce flesh easily thanks to the fine ridges at the back of each tooth. The newly discovered specimen has features that suggest it had acute senses, like the small pits on its snout and a hole on its head that would have contained a third eye.
The fossil is so unique that it has been featured in a special David Attenborough documentary airing on BBC One on New Year’s Day. The skull, which will be put on display next year, is believed to be part of a larger fossil that may still be hidden in the cliffs. “I stake my life the rest of the animal is there,” says Etches, adding that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to retrieve the rest of the body before it is lost to erosion.
Scientists from around the world will be keen to examine the fossil in the hope of learning more about how these incredible reptiles lived and dominated their ecosystem. The courage, dedication, and the months spent cleaning up the skull to reveal its features have undoubtedly been worth it. This fossil is giving new insights into a creature that lived long before humans, on a planet that was vastly different from the one we see today
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