Tag: Paleontology
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Xiphodracon goldencapensis: Dorset’s Sword Dragon Ichthyosaur
New Star on the Jurassic Coast: A Sword Dragon Emerges In the fossil-rich cliffs of Dorset, along the famed Jurassic Coast, scientists have identified a new species of ichthyosaur—the sword dragon Xiphodracon goldencapensis. This near-complete skeleton, discovered in 2001 and finally analyzed in depth by a team of paleontologists, represents the most complete specimen from…
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New Sword-Headed Ichthyosaur Unearthed on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast: Xiphodracon goldencapensis
Discovery and designation of a unique species A near-complete skeleton recovered from Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that dominated the oceans long before dinosaurs walked the land. The fossil, about the size of a dolphin and remarkably well preserved, has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis…
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Sword Dragon of Dorset: Newly Identified Ichthyosaur Reveals Ancient Seas and a Lethal Bite
Introduction: A Remarkable Find on the Jurassic Coast Off Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast, a near-complete skeleton has been identified as a brand-new species of ichthyosaur, a group of marine reptiles that dominated ancient oceans. Named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the Sword Dragon of Dorset, this discovery adds a pivotal piece to the puzzle of Early Jurassic…
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Sword Dragon of Dorset: A New Ichthyosaur Species Unearthed
The Discovery that Shaped a New Chapter in Ichthyosaur History Along the famed Jurassic Coast of Dorset, a near-complete skeleton has emerged as a landmark find in paleontology. Discovered in 2001 by a prolific fossil hunter at Golden Cap, the specimen was eventually acquired by a Canadian museum and has now been identified as a…
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Sword Dragon of Dorset: Newly Identified Ichthyosaur Xiphodracon goldencapensis
Introduction: A unique find on the Jurassic Coast A near-complete skeleton discovered on Dorset’s Jurassic coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that ruled ancient oceans. The specimen, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis — the “sword dragon of Dorset” — is the only known example of its kind. Its discovery adds…
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Sword Dragon Unearthed: The New Ichthyosaur Xiphodracon goldencapensis
Discovery on the Jurassic Coast A near-complete skeleton found along Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that dominated ancient seas. The specimen, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis — the “sword dragon of Dorset” — stands out as the only known example of its kind and offers a…
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Dorset’s Sword Dragon: A New Ichthyosaur Species Unearthed on the Jurassic Coast
New Find on the Jurassic Coast Sheds Light on an Ancient Ocean The Dorset coast continues to yield remarkable clues about Earth’s deep history. A near-complete skeleton of a marine reptile has been identified as a brand-new ichthyosaur species, expanding our understanding of life in the Jurassic seas. Scientists have named this dolphin-sized predator Xiphodracon…
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Sword Dragon of Dorset: New Ichthyosaur Xiphodracon goldencapensis Unearthed on Jurassic Coast
Introduction: A New Echo from the Jurassic Coast A near-complete skeleton found along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset has been identified as a brand-new species of ichthyosaur, a group of prehistoric marine reptiles that swam the seas from the Early Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous. The newly named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, nicknamed the “Sword Dragon of…
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Tiny fossil fish rewrite freshwater evolution after 70 million years hidden
A tiny fish with a big impact Researchers have unearthed a 4-centimeter-long skeleton from the Late Cretaceous that is rewriting our understanding of freshwater evolution. Named Acronichthys maccognoi, this diminutive fossil fish spent tens of millions of years hidden in rock before emerging to illuminate the deep history of otophysans, a major supergroup of bony…
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Tiny fossil fish rewrites freshwater evolution after 70 million-year hideaway
Hidden for 70 Million Years, a Tiny Fossil Fish Changes Our View of Freshwater Evolution A minuscule skeleton about 4 centimeters long from the Late Cretaceous period has just rewritten a chapter of evolutionary history. Discovered by a collaborative team from Western University, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, and international partners, this tiny fossil…