They concluded it was an ichthyosaur - a type of warm-blooded air-breathing sea predator not unlike dolphins. Immerse yourself in the epic story of this fossil giant that was first.

Ichthyosaur Marine Reptiles Photographic Print Chris Butler Art Com Prehistoric Animals Prehistoric Creatures Reptiles

Based on fossil evidence they first appeared approximately 245 million years ago mya and disappeared about 90 million years ago about 25 million years before the dinosaurs became extinct.

. Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era. They became extinct around 90 million years ago after first appearing 250 million years ago. Ichthyosaurs Ancient Greek for fish lizard ἰχθύς or ichthys meaning fish and σαῦρος or sauros meaning lizard are large extinct marine reptiles.

They could grow up to 25 metres long and lived between 250 million and 90 million years ago. Workers excavating the sea dragon. Ichthyosaurs Greek for fish lizard were giant marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins.

Dr Dean Lomax a palaeontologist from Manchester University was brought in to lead the excavation effort. The ichthyosaur fossil was found at a nature reserve and reservoir. With a skull size of 2 meters and an estimated body size of 17 meters this creature is the largest animal discovered from the Middle Triassic 242-244 million years ago.

13 hours agoFossilized ichthyosaur or sea dragon found in England. It was over 32 feet long and had a 6-foot skull weighing around one ton. 11 hours agoMarine reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs ichthyosaurs resembled dolphins in body shape.

These distant relatives of lizards and snakes lepidosaurs were the most highly specialized aquatic reptiles but ichthyosaurs were not dinosaurs. Ichthyosaur any member of an extinct group of aquatic reptiles most of which were very similar to porpoises in appearance and habits.