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Father and Daughter Discover 'Gigantic' Prehistoric Jawbone From Largest Known Marine Reptile

Storyful

21 April 2024 at 0:49 pm

A schoolgirl and her father discovered enormous fossils belonging to the jaw of a newly identified species of giant ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile, in May 2020.

According to Bristol University, father-daughter duo Justin and Ruby Reynolds discovered the first pieces of a jawbone while fossil hunting on Blue Anchor Beach, Somerset, in May of 2020.

Eleven-year-old Ruby stumbled upon the initial chunk, leading to the joint discovery of more fragments.

Ruby and Justin contacted Bristol University’s Dr Dean Lomax, a leading ichthyosaur expert, who then got in touch with seasoned fossil collector Paul de la Salle, who found the first giant jawbone in Lilstock in May of 2016.

“I was amazed by the find. In 2018, my team (including Paul de la Salle) studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone and we had hoped that one day another would come to light,” Dr Lomax said.

Bristol University reported that the research team, led by Dr Lomax, confirmed that the jaw fragments belonged to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would have been about the size of a blue whale.

“Having two examples of the same bone with the same unique features from the same geologic time zone supports their identifications,” the university said.

Footage here, captured by de la Salle, shows Justin Reynolds slowly turning a section of a giant ichthyosaur jaw as Ruby can be heard making excited remarks in the background. Credit: Paul de la Salle via Storyful

Video transcript

- That's just exceptional. Oh, my god.

- The preservation on it.

- Yeah, it's very, very similar to Ruby's, exactly the same.

- Could you just turn it over slowly?

- This way?

- Yeah, please, very slow. Keep going, please. Look at the ends and the other end very clearly still on the end, aren't they?

- Oh, that's just an exceptional find.

- The preservation on it.

- Yeah, it's very, very similar to Ruby's, exactly the same.

- It is.

- Could you just turn it over slowly?

- This way?

- Yeah, please, very slow. Keep going, please. Look at the ends and the other end very clearly still on the end, aren't they?

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