11-Year-Old Girl Discovers Fossilized Bones of Giant Ichthyosaur on English Beach

In a remarkable discovery, 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father Justin found fossilized bones on a beach in Somerset, England in 2020. The bones are believed to belong to an 82-foot ichthyosaur, potentially the largest known marine reptile from the dinosaur era.

The fossil hunt began in 2016 when fossil collector Paul de la Salle found a giant jawbone along Lilstock Beach. Four years later, Ruby found a chunk of another giant bone, which led to a multi-year search for more pieces of the fossil. The research team, including paleontologist Dean Lomax, recovered the final piece of the jawbone in October 2022.

Analysis revealed the bones belonged to a new species of giant ichthyosaur, which the team named Ichthyotitan severnensis, meaning 'giant fish lizard of the Severn.' The creature is estimated to have been between 72 and 85 feet long, potentially rivaling the size of the blue whale.

Why this matters: This discovery provides evidence that giant marine reptiles were swimming in the oceans around what is now the UK during the Triassic period, 202 million years ago. It also highlights the potential for amateur fossil hunters to make significant contributions to paleontology.

The bones predate the global extinction event that ended the reign of marine reptiles of this size. "This discovery is a testament to the importance of citizen science and the contributions that amateur fossil hunters can make to our understanding of prehistoric life," said Dr. Lomax.

Ruby, now 15, became a published scientist when the study about the discovery was published in the journal PLOS One. The fossil findings will soon be displayed at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and a 3D replica of the giant bones will be showcased at a museum in Orlando, Florida.

Key Takeaways

• 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father found 82-ft ichthyosaur fossils in England.
• The fossils are believed to be the largest known marine reptile from the dinosaur era.
• The discovery provides evidence of giant marine reptiles in the UK during the Triassic period.
• The fossil findings will be displayed at museums in Bristol and Orlando, Florida.
• Ruby became a published scientist when the study was published in PLOS One.