Ichthyosaur Fossil Found in Dorset: The Sword Dragon Revealed...
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- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 11
A newly analysed ichthyosaur fossil found in Dorset has been confirmed as a completely new species of prehistoric marine reptile. Unearthed along the Jurassic Coast, the near-complete skeleton has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis — the “sword dragon of Golden Cap”. Scientists say it is the only known example of its kind and one of the most complete ichthyosaur fossils ever discovered from this time period...
The fossil was first uncovered in 2001 by local fossil hunter Chris Moore and later acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. More than two decades later, detailed research by an international team revealed it to be a new species of ichthyosaur.

How the Sword Dragon Was Identified
Experts, including Dr Dean Lomax from the University of Manchester, and Professor Judy Massare from the State University of New York, studied the fossil in depth. Their findings, published in Papers in Palaeontology, confirm that this ichthyosaur fossil found in Dorset lived around 185 million years ago during the Early Jurassic period.
Dr Lomax explained the name choice:
“Xiphodracon translates to ‘sword-like dragon’ — a nod to its strikingly long snout and to the fact that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years.”
Analysis of the fossil skull revealed evidence of a violent death, with bite marks likely inflicted by a much larger ichthyosaur.
Study co-author Dr Erin Maxwell from the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart said:
“The limb bones and teeth show signs of serious injury or disease while the animal was alive. The skull damage suggests it was bitten by another, larger predator — life in the Jurassic oceans was far from peaceful.”

What Makes This Ichthyosaur Unique
The Xiphodracon goldencapensis was about three metres long, roughly the size of a dolphin. It had a long, sword-like snout, massive eye sockets adapted for low-light hunting, and a distinctive prong-like bone near its nostril — a feature unseen in any other ichthyosaur.
According to Discover Wildlife, ichthyosaurs like the Sword Dragon likely hunted fish and squid, using their long snouts to dart at prey in open waters.
A Landmark Find for Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
The ichthyosaur fossil found in Dorset adds a new chapter to the area’s celebrated fossil history, first made famous by 19th-century palaeontologist Mary Anning. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for revealing hundreds of millions of years of geological history, yet finds as complete as this are incredibly rare.
Dr Lomax described the discovery as “a missing piece of the puzzle in ichthyosaur evolution”, filling an important gap in the fossil record during a period when ichthyosaurs are seldom found.
Celebrating the Discovery

Chris Moore, who has discovered around 15 ichthyosaurs in his career, was thrilled that the fossil he found over 20 years ago has been identified as a new species.
“I don’t wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet, but I’ve found a few of them,” he said. “I’ll be celebrating the Sword Dragon discovery — maybe with champagne, or perhaps just a mug of tea.”
The ichthyosaur fossil found in Dorset shows there is still much to uncover along the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast — proof that even after centuries of fossil hunting, the ancient seas continue to reveal new secrets…
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