A three-decade-old bone unearthed at the Murchison House Station near Kalbarri, Western Australia, has unlocked a 100-million-year-old story. 

The fossil, identified as the flipper bone of an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile, holds the distinction of being the youngest “fish lizard” ever found in the southern hemisphere.

This remarkable find, meticulously studied by researchers in recent years, provides crucial insights into the species’ existence and extinction.

The fossil, identified as the flipper bone of an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile, holds the distinction of being the youngest “fish lizard” ever found in the southern hemisphere. (9News)
Dr Mikael Siversson, the paleontologist who discovered the fossil in 1995, describes ichthyosaurs as air-breathing reptiles, “a mix between a shark and a dolphin”. (9News)

Dr Mikael Siversson, the paleontologist who discovered the fossil in 1995, describes ichthyosaurs as air-breathing reptiles, “a mix between a shark and a dolphin”.

Through extensive research, scientists have determined that this particular ichthyosaur dates back 94 to 97 million years, pushing the species’ extinction timeline further back than previously believed.

Siversson said ichthyosaurs were experiencing a steep decline during this period, but they likely did not survive until the major extinction event that wiped out numerous species, about 100 million years ago.

This extinction event was triggered by extreme global warming, with carbon dioxide levels reaching 1500 to 2000 parts per million, significantly higher than today’s levels.

Further analysis of a fossil shark tooth discovered in the same geological layer as the ichthyosaur fossil has aided scientists in accurately determining the age of the remains. 

First pharaoh’s tomb found in Egypt since Tutankhamun’s

This discovery contributes to a broader research project aimed at comprehensively documenting all marine reptiles that existed during the age of dinosaurs in WA.

“There’s a lot of exciting new discoveries, new species, so there’s lots to look forward to,” Siversson said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
You May Also Like

New York State Will Defy Trump's DEI Order for K-12 Schools

On Thursday, the federal Department of Education sent a letter to…

Alec Baldwin's Oldest Daughter Ireland And His Wife Have An Awkward Age Gap

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Alec…

Crazy Teacher Offered Kid $2K to Murder Her Husband

In your latest advertisement for homeschooling, a teacher in Ohio tried…

Activist Judge Caught Red-Handed in Setup Against Trump in Bombshell Revelations

A bombshell transcript obtained by conservative journalist Julie Kelly exposes how…