An amateur British fossil hunter named Steve Etches has found a previously unidentified “sea dragon” or an ichthyosaur fossil in Dorset, England. An amateur is a person who takes part in a sport or hobby for fun, not for money or as a job.

Steve found the fossil on the Jurassic Coast. This is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. Many fossils have been found here.

Scientists at the University of Portsmouth, England identified it as a new group and species of the ichthyosaurus.

Ichthyosaurs are known as “sea dragons” because of their usually large teeth and eyes. They were excellent hunters in the sea.

The fossil is two-metres-long and has been named the “Etches sea dragon“. It lived 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period

This newly discovered species has even larger eyes than other ichthyosaurs. This would have allowed it to see in low light conditions deep underwater

Steve said that he was honoured the discovery was named after him. The sea dragon fossil will be displayed at the Etches Collection, a museum in Dorset. This collection is named after Steve who has also discovered many other fossils.

 

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