Ichthyotitan severnensis - Finding a New Species

I came across this WEB PAGE and from it was directed to THIS ACADEMIC PAPER. The contrast between the styles is extreme but the basis for both is the same. This is the finding of bones from the jawbone of an ichthyosaur and using the finds to describe a huge creature and erect a new species.

The bones were found by a young girl and her father on Blue Anchor Bay in Somerset and the creature is estimated to be 25m long. It was realised that a similar jawbone had been found some time earlier in the same rock layer, at a nearby locale. This was sufficient for a new species to be postulated.

A washed-up Ichthyotitan severnensis carcass on the beach. Credit: Sergey Krasovskiy.

The story of the find shows that amateur geologists can still be important in our science. And it is cheering to note that they both appear among the authors of the academic paper.

The paper has a long description of the find and a discussion about the naming of a new species. And it asks that if you find something similar to contact them! And they would be delighted if you could find a complete specimen of the animal!