Paleontologists have successfully excavated the skull of a massive marine reptile, an Ichthyosaur, estimated to have been over 20 meters long. The fossil was found embedded in the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast in southern England. The skull alone measures nearly two meters, making it one of the largest and most complete specimens ever found of this 'sea dragon' species.
Initial analysis suggests this individual belongs to a previously unknown genus that lived approximately 200 million years ago. The preservation of the sclerotic ring (the bony ring inside the eye) will provide scientists with rare data on the visual capabilities of these ancient apex predators in deep-sea environments.