THE fossilised remains of a 180-million year-old ichthyosaur, also known as a
‘sea dragon’, have been discovered at popular trout and predator-fishing venue Rutland Water.
Measuring 30ft long and with a massive skull weighing around a ton, ichthyosaurs resembled dolphins in appearance. They went extinct 90 million years ago
The fossil was discovered by Joe Davis, Conservation Team Leader at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, during routine relandscaping work.
“It’s amazing to think that this creature was once swimming in seas above us, and now Rutland Water is once again a haven for wetland wildlife, albeit on a smaller scale!” he said.
Palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax added:
“It’s a truly unprecedented discovery and one of the greatest finds in British paleontological history.”
