Giant 180 million-year-old ‘sea dragon’ fossil found in UK reservoir

A 33ft long fossil of an ichthyosaur, the largest UK example of a predator that roamed the seas at the time of the dinosaurs, has been uncovered at an English nature reserve.

This dragon is the biggest, most complete fossil of its kind found in the UK. It is also thought to be the first ichthyosaur of its specific species (Temnodontosaurus trigonodon) found in the country.

When lifted for conservation and study, the block containing the 6ft (2m) skull and surrounding clay alone weighed a tonne.

In February 2021, Joe Davis, conservation team leader at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, discovered a dragon during the routine draining of a lagoon island for re-landscaping.