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An almost intact skeleton discovered along the Jurassic Coast has been identified as a previously unknown species of ichthyosaur, a type of ancient marine reptile that once dominated the oceans.

This marine creature ichthyosaur has been designated Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "blade serpent of Dorset" and stands as the only known specimen of its kind.

Scientists report that indentations on its cranium indicate the "sword dragon" may have been killed by a attack to the head, potentially inflicted by a significantly bigger type of ichthyosaur.

Initially found by a prolific fossil hunter at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was later obtained by a institution in Canada.

It has only recently been completely studied by experts and a paper published classifying it as a new species of ichthyosaur.

"I thought long and hard about the name," said ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax, who co-authored the paper identifying the fossil as a novel type.

"The name Xiphodracon means sword-like dragon and that refers to that very long, sword-like nose, but also the reality that ichthyosaurs have been referred to as sea dragons for about 200 years."

Ancient Marine Life

Ichthyosaurs are classified as marine reptiles, rather than dinosaurs, because they spent their lives in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is believed to have swum the seas about 185 million years ago, a period from which extremely rare ichthyosaur fossils have been discovered.

"During this time ichthyosaurs are incredibly rare, and Xiphodracon is the most complete individual ever found from there, helping to fill a gap," Dr Lomax said. "This represents a crucial element of the mystery in ichthyosaur development."

Unique Characteristics

The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m long and has multiple characteristics that have never been observed in other species of ichthyosaur.

• Researchers report the strangest detail is a fork-shaped bone near its nostril
• The skull has an exceptionally large eye socket
• A long sword-like snout that it used to consume fish and squid

Life and Death

There are also clues as to how this particular specimen existed and perished.

"Its fins and dental structure are malformed in such a way that indicates serious injury or illness while the creature was still living," stated study contributor Dr Erin Maxwell.

"The skull seems to have been attacked by a large predator - likely another considerably bigger type of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this individual. Life in the Mesozoic oceans was a risky prospect."

Finding and Study

The specimen was found in 2001 by paleontology enthusiast Chris Moore and then acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada where it took more than 15 years to be fully analyzed.

"I don't wish to blow my own ichthyosaur trumpet but I have discovered a number of them," Mr Moore said.

The precise count he's unearthed is somewhere in the region of 15, with several of them, like the "sword dragon", proving to be new species.

Mr Moore says he is planning to celebrate the recent finding but has yet to decide precisely what form the recognition will take.

"Champagne or a mug of tea, I'm not sure which yet," he says.

The 'sword dragon' is one of numerous ichthyosaur remains that have been discovered along Dorset's Jurassic Coast since the initial findings of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the early 1800s.