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A nearly complete fossilized frame found along the Jurassic Coast has been classified as a previously unknown species of ichthyosaur, a variety of ancient marine reptile that once dominated the oceans.

The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been designated Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "sword dragon of Dorset" and represents the sole documented specimen of its kind.

Scientists report that marks on its skull suggest the "sword dragon" may have been fatally wounded by a bite to the head, possibly delivered by a significantly bigger species of ichthyosaur.

Initially found by a prolific fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the recently identified ichthyosaur was subsequently acquired by a institution in Canada.

Only in recent times been fully analyzed by experts and a paper released identifying it as a new species of ichthyosaur.

"I thought long and hard about the name," stated ichthyosaur specialist Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the paper identifying the fossil as a novel type.

"Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that is in reference to that extremely elongated, sword-like snout, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been called sea dragons for about 200 years."

Ancient Marine Life

These creatures are categorized as marine reptiles, rather than dinosaurs, because they spent their lives in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is thought to have swum the seas about 185 million years ago, a time frame from which extremely rare ichthyosaur fossils have been found.

"In this period ichthyosaurs are extremely uncommon, and Xiphodracon is the best preserved individual ever found from there, helping to fill a gap," Dr Lomax said. "This represents a crucial element of the puzzle in ichthyosaur evolution."

Unique Characteristics

The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m in length and has multiple characteristics that have never been observed in other types of ichthyosaur.

• Researchers report the strangest detail is a fork-shaped bone near its nose opening
• Its head has an enormous eye socket
• A long sword-like snout that it used to consume fish and squid

Existence and Demise

There are also clues as to how this specific specimen existed and perished.

"The limb bones and teeth are malformed in such a way that points to significant trauma or disease while the creature was still living," said study contributor Dr Erin Maxwell.

"Its head seems to have been bitten by a large predator - probably another much larger type of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this individual. Existence in ancient seas was a dangerous situation."

Discovery and Analysis

The specimen was found in 2001 by fossil hunter Chris Moore and then obtained by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada where it took more than 15 years to be fully analyzed.

"I don't wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet but I have found a number of them," Mr Moore said.

The actual number he's unearthed is somewhere in the region of 15, with multiple of them, like the "sword dragon", turning out to be previously unknown types.

The discoverer stated he is intending to commemorate the new discovery but has not yet determined exactly how the celebration will take.

"Either sparkling wine or traditional brew, I'm undecided at this moment," he says.

This remarkable discovery is one of numerous ichthyosaur remains that have been found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast since the first discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.