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A nearly complete fossilized frame found along the Jurassic Coast has been classified as a new kind of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once dominated the oceans.

The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been designated Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "blade serpent of Dorset" and represents the only known example of its kind.

Scientists report that indentations on its skull suggest the "sword dragon" may have been fatally wounded by a bite to the head, potentially inflicted by a much larger type of ichthyosaur.

First discovered by a experienced fossil collector at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the recently identified ichthyosaur was subsequently obtained by a museum in Canada.

It has only recently been completely studied by specialists and a paper released identifying it as a new species of ichthyosaur.

"I carefully considered about the name," stated ichthyosaur specialist Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the paper identifying the fossil as a new species.

"The name Xiphodracon means sword-like dragon and that refers to that extremely elongated, sword-like snout, but also the reality that ichthyosaurs have been called sea dragons for about 200 years."

Prehistoric Ocean Creatures

These creatures are categorized as marine reptiles, not dinosaurs, because they lived entirely in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is thought to have swum the seas about 185 million years ago, a time frame from which very few ichthyosaur fossils have been discovered.

"During this time ichthyosaurs are incredibly rare, and Xiphodracon is the most complete individual ever found from there, contributing to close a gap," Dr Lomax said. "It's a missing piece of the puzzle in ichthyosaur development."

Unique Characteristics

The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m in length and has multiple characteristics that have not been seen in other types of ichthyosaur.

• Researchers say the strangest feature is a prong-like bone near its nose opening
• The skull has an enormous eye socket
• An extended sword-like snout that it used to eat 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 abnormally shaped in such a way that indicates significant trauma or disease while the creature was still alive," said study co-author Dr Erin Maxwell.

"Its head seems to have been attacked by a large predator - probably another much larger species of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this specimen. Existence in ancient seas was a risky prospect."

Finding and Study

This "sword dragon" was discovered in 2001 by paleontology enthusiast 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 few of them," Mr Moore stated.

The precise count he's unearthed is somewhere in the region of 15, with multiple of them, like the "blade serpent", proving to be previously unknown types.

The discoverer stated he is planning to celebrate the recent finding but has not yet determined exactly how the recognition will take.

"Champagne or a mug of tea, I'm not sure which yet," he says.

The 'sword dragon' is one of numerous ichthyosaur fossils that have been found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast dating back to the initial findings of trailblazing palaeontologist Mary Anning in the beginning of the nineteenth century.