Fossils of Prehistoric Reptile Discovered on Isle of Skye in Scotland
Posted on January 18, 2015
The fossils of a previously unknown species of prehistoric marine reptile have discovered on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Scientists say the dolphin-like creatures were the size of motor boats (about 4 to 4.5 meters long) and inhabited warm, shallow seas around Scotland about 170 million years ago.
The researchers from the University of Edinburgh and other Scottish institutions say the creatures would have been near the top of the food chain. They likely would have consumed fish and smaller reptiles. Paleontologists involved in the study examined fossil fragments that have been found on the Isle of Skye over the past fifty years. These fragments include skulls, teeth, vertebrate and an arm bone.
Dr. Steve Brusatte from the School of GeoSciences as the University of Edinburgh, says in a statement, "During the time of dinosaurs, the waters of Scotland were prowled by big reptiles the size of motor boats. Their fossils are very rare, and only now, for the first time we've found a new species that was uniquely Scottish."
The new species has been named Dearcmhara shawcrossi. Dearcmhara (pronounced "jark vara") is the Scottish Gaelic for marine lizard. The second part of the name, shawcrossi, is named for Brian Shawcross, an amateur enthusiast who discovered fossils of the new species in 1959.
The study about Dearcmhara shawcrossi is published here in the Scottish Journal of Geology.
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