The remains were about 250 million years old and offer new evidence for how ichthyosaurs may have evolved.
Researchers have discovered the oldest known remains of a giant ancient oceanic reptile, known as an ichthyosaur, on a remote Arctic island, offering new evidence of how the creature may have evolved.
The fossil was found on Spitsbergen, a Norwegian island, along the coast of a deep fjord, the Swedish and Norweigian research team said in a paper published Monday in the journal. Previously, the oldest known such fossil was a 248-million-year-old specimen found in China. Ichthyosaurs first appeared around 250 million years ago, researchers said, but went extinct around 90 million years ago. Previously, scientists believed that the first ichthyosaurs would have been primitive creatures that were similar to land-living ancestors. Instead, the researchers found that the fossil was a more advanced aquatic predator, which indicates previous theories may have been wrong about the reptile's origins.
"The implications of this discovery are manifold, but most importantly indicate that the long-anticipated transitional ichthyosaur ancestor must have appeared much earlier than previously suspected," said lead researcher Benjamin Kear, curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Uppsala University's Museum of Evolution in Sweden,Features of the fossils show that the creatures were"advanced aquatic tetrapods" that"must have rapidly adapted as oceanic apex predators,"...
The fossil found in Norway was about 10 feet long, researchers said, with advanced vertebrae. It was found amid other fossils, including those of fish, sharks and amphibians.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ethereum (ETH) Makes Biggest Comeback in 250 Days, Following 20% RallyUnexpectedly, $ETH shows biggest rebound in almost a year, while $ADA and $BLUR are becoming more popular among traders
Read more »
Biden to enact Arctic protections as approval of oil project loomsThe president will put the entire Arctic Ocean off limits to oil and gas leasing Monday, according to a White House office, as the administration nears approval of the Willow drilling project in Alaska.
Read more »
Biden plans limits on oil drilling in Alaska, Arctic Circle, AP reportsU.S. President Joe Biden will prevent or limit oil drilling in 13 million acres of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, the Associated Press reported on Sunday, citing an administration official.
Read more »
Biden to announce Arctic Ocean protections as administration weighs controversial Willow oil projectPresident Biden is expected to prohibit oil and gas leasing across the entirety of the United States' territory in the Arctic Ocean, an administration official confirmed on Sunday.
Read more »
Biden Declares U.S. Arctic Ocean Off Limits to New Oil and Gas LeasingThe Biden administration says it will form a 'firewall' against future oil and gas leasing in the Arctic and federal lands in Alaska’s North Slope
Read more »
Biden will announce sweeping protections preventing new Arctic drilling ahead of Willow decision | CNN PoliticsPresident Joe Biden on Monday is expected to announce sweeping new protections for federal lands and waters in Alaska, according to an administration official, as the administration is poised to soon approve a major oil drilling project in the state.
Read more »