Fossils of three ichthyosaurs, animals that appeared around 250 million years ago, have been found in the Swiss Alps.
These animals could weigh up to 80 tons and measure more than 20 m.
They had an elongated body and a small head.
They are considered to be among the largest animals that have ever existed.
The fossils were found at 2,800 m altitude.
The seabed of the time, which surrounded the only existing super-continent (Pangea), was gradually found, due to plate tectonics, at the top of the mountains.
The fossils of three huge marine reptiles, ichthyosaurs that lived about 205 million years ago, have been discovered in the Swiss Alps, including the largest tooth ever found from this animal, according to a study published on Thursday.
Weighing up to 80 tons and measuring more than 20 meters, ichthyosaurs, which had an elongated body and a small head, are considered to be among the largest animals that have ever existed.
Appeared about 250 million years ago, some smaller, dolphin-like representatives survived until 90 million years ago.
But most died out 200 million years ago, especially those that evolved to become gigantic.
These would have rivaled our current large sperm whales, while remaining smaller than the largest living animal on Earth today, the blue whale (up to 30 meters long).
Found at… 2,800 m altitude
Few fossils of this prehistoric giant have been discovered so far, which constitutes "a great mystery", according to Professor Martin Sander, lead author of this work published in the
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
.
The specimens in question were unearthed between 1976 and 1990, in the canton of Grisons in Switzerland, but have only recently been studied in detail.
Funny fact: they were found at an altitude of 2,800 m.
The seabed of the time, which surrounded the only existing super-continent (Pangea), was gradually found, due to plate tectonics, at the top of the mountains.
From an early ichthyosaur were found a series of ten rib fragments, accompanied by a vertebra, suggesting an animal about 20 m long.
Or more or less the equivalent of the largest specimen ever discovered (21 m), named Shonisaurus sikanniensis and found in Canada.
The second animal measured about 15 m, according to the seven vertebrae examined.
A root of 60 mm in diameter
But the highlight of the show is this tooth "enormous, even for an ichthyosaur: its root is 60 mm in diameter", detailed in a press release Martin Sander, from the University of Bonn.
The specimen found in Canada apparently had no teeth.
Ichthyosaurs with and without teeth would have cohabited, according to the study.
The largest tooth discovered so far (and the only other for a giant ichthyosaur) measured 20 mm in diameter, from an animal almost 18 m long.
Most of the crown of this new tooth is unfortunately missing.
The size of its host cannot therefore be deduced.
According to the researcher, "it is difficult to tell whether the tooth is from a large ichthyosaur with giant teeth, or from a giant ichthyosaur with standard-sized teeth."
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Paleontology
Prehistory
Dinosaur
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