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Fossil gives clues to extinction 250 million years ago | Fossil gives clues to extinction 250 million years ago |
(35 minutes later) | |
A newly-classified fossil gives clues to how life in the oceans recovered from a mass extinction about 250 million years ago. | A newly-classified fossil gives clues to how life in the oceans recovered from a mass extinction about 250 million years ago. |
The reptile is an early relative of the ichthyosaurs - a large group of marine reptiles that swam at the time of the dinosaurs. | The reptile is an early relative of the ichthyosaurs - a large group of marine reptiles that swam at the time of the dinosaurs. |
With its tiny toothless head, the creature is something of a curiosity, say scientists. | With its tiny toothless head, the creature is something of a curiosity, say scientists. |
The specimen suggests marine reptiles evolved quickly after the event. | |
Previous evidence has suggested it took a long time for animals in the seas to bounce back. | Previous evidence has suggested it took a long time for animals in the seas to bounce back. |
Details of the specimen, Sclerocormus parviceps, are unveiled in Scientific Reports. | Details of the specimen, Sclerocormus parviceps, are unveiled in Scientific Reports. |
Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland, worked on the fossil alongside teams in the US and China. | Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland, worked on the fossil alongside teams in the US and China. |
"Here's something that gives us a sense of the evolutionary pathway," said Dr Fraser. | "Here's something that gives us a sense of the evolutionary pathway," said Dr Fraser. |
"We've still got a long way to go to see where the ichthyosaurs came from, however it's a step in the right direction. | "We've still got a long way to go to see where the ichthyosaurs came from, however it's a step in the right direction. |
"And it all points to a very rapid radiation after this mass extinction - this mother of all extinctions at the end of the Permian, which had a major impact on the Earth." | "And it all points to a very rapid radiation after this mass extinction - this mother of all extinctions at the end of the Permian, which had a major impact on the Earth." |
The ichthyosaurs are a large group of marine reptiles that were common in the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods. | The ichthyosaurs are a large group of marine reptiles that were common in the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods. |
Most were dolphin-like in shape with streamlined bodies and long snouts. | Most were dolphin-like in shape with streamlined bodies and long snouts. |
But the new animal is something of a mystery, with its short snout, long, whip-like tail and thick ribcage. | But the new animal is something of a mystery, with its short snout, long, whip-like tail and thick ribcage. |
And while many ichthyosaurs had teeth for catching prey, Sclerocormus lacked teeth and probably sucked up food. | And while many ichthyosaurs had teeth for catching prey, Sclerocormus lacked teeth and probably sucked up food. |
"It looked a bit like a small-headed porpoise with a fairly broad stiff body," Dr Fraser told BBC News. | "It looked a bit like a small-headed porpoise with a fairly broad stiff body," Dr Fraser told BBC News. |
The creature fills the gap in the fossil record between primitive marine reptiles and the more advanced ichthyosaurs, which dominated the oceans for millions of years. | The creature fills the gap in the fossil record between primitive marine reptiles and the more advanced ichthyosaurs, which dominated the oceans for millions of years. |
"We don't have many marine reptile fossils from this period, so this specimen is important because it suggests that there's diversity that hasn't been uncovered yet," said co-researcher Dr Olivier Rieppel of The Field Museum in Chicago. | "We don't have many marine reptile fossils from this period, so this specimen is important because it suggests that there's diversity that hasn't been uncovered yet," said co-researcher Dr Olivier Rieppel of The Field Museum in Chicago. |
"These ichthyosauriforms (ichythyosaurs and close relatives) seem to have evolved very quickly, in short bursts of lots of change, in leaps and bounds." | "These ichthyosauriforms (ichythyosaurs and close relatives) seem to have evolved very quickly, in short bursts of lots of change, in leaps and bounds." |
Prof Ryosuke Motani of the department of earth science at UC Davis also worked on the fossil. | Prof Ryosuke Motani of the department of earth science at UC Davis also worked on the fossil. |
"Sclerocormus is one of the most surprising marine reptiles that I have seen," he explained. | "Sclerocormus is one of the most surprising marine reptiles that I have seen," he explained. |
"Measuring 1.6 metres in total length it was one of the largest marine vertebrates of the time. | "Measuring 1.6 metres in total length it was one of the largest marine vertebrates of the time. |
"It appeared after the mass extinction, which was at the end of the Permian, and quickly became extinct." | "It appeared after the mass extinction, which was at the end of the Permian, and quickly became extinct." |
Hammerhead fossil | Hammerhead fossil |
China's geology is ideal for finding the remains of marine reptiles from the ancient oceans. | China's geology is ideal for finding the remains of marine reptiles from the ancient oceans. |
There have been a wealth of recent fossil discoveries inside quarries, including Sclerocormus, which has taken several years to classify. | There have been a wealth of recent fossil discoveries inside quarries, including Sclerocormus, which has taken several years to classify. |
Earlier this month, some of the same researchers unveiled another marine reptile fossil, which was also found in China. | Earlier this month, some of the same researchers unveiled another marine reptile fossil, which was also found in China. |
Named Atopodentatus, it lived 242 million years ago and had a distinctive hammer-shaped skull. | Named Atopodentatus, it lived 242 million years ago and had a distinctive hammer-shaped skull. |
Follow Helen on Twitter. | Follow Helen on Twitter. |
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