Scientists discover new species of ancient ichthyosaurs in Germany

Researchers have identified a new ichthyosaurus species of Jurassic era.

A team of researchers from Switzerland and Germany, led by Gaël Spicher of the Jurassica Museum of Porrentruy (Switzerland), identified a species of ichthyosaurus previously unknown. The discovery is based on fossil samples kept at Oberfranken at Musée Urwelt in Bayreuth (Germany). The details of the work were published in Fossil fileThe Open Access Journal of the Museum for Natural History Berlin.

The newly recognized species has been appointed Eurhinosaurus erlgauensisA reference to the Mertelgau clay pit by the Franconia upper. This location is known to produce significant fossil discoveries. “We wanted to underline the scientific importance of the locality of Metelgau,” explains Gaël Spicher, author and doctoral student.

Fossil excavations in Metelgau

Excavations in the clay pit have been carried out regularly since 1998 by the Oberfranken at Musulum d’Uro-Ut, which recovered and prepared the fossils before their scientific study. A specimen comes from a so -called “Belemnite battlefield” – dense accumulations of jurassic cephalopods are characteristic of the site.

The ichthyosaurs – marine reptiles which lived at the time of dinosaurs – have striking similarities in the shape of a body with dolphins or tuna. The newly described species shares the lengthening of the upper jaw typical of Eurhinosaurs, producing a pronounced “surbite” similar to that of modern swordfish. Eurhinosaurus erlgauensis differs from the species previously known by its coastlines in particular robust and its special characteristics in the joint connecting the skull and the neck.

“The denomination of a new species emphasizes the importance of the fossil collections of Oberfranken de l’Orfranken to understand the marine ecosystems of Jurassic,” explains the museum director, Dr. Serjoscha Evers, who was not involved in the study. “The Mertelgau site continues to provide rare information over a period which is also barely documented worldwide.”

Other studies on MERTELGAU equipment are in preparation. These include analyzes of the wounds kept in the skeletons of Ichthyosaurus, which can shed light on the ecology and the history of the life of these former sea reptiles.

Reference: “A new Eurhinosaur (Ithhysoura) of the specifics of the lower Jurassic (Tarcian) or Mistrea, southern Germany)” by Gaeku E. Specher, Fiiko MIEDMA, Jeleku Heines, Fossil file.
DOI: 10.3897 / Fr.28.154203

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