Ichthyotitan

Ichthyotitan is an extinct genus of giant ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) of what is now Somerset, England.

Ichthyotitan is an extinct genus of giant ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) of what is now Somerset, England. It is known from jaw fossils and contains the single named species Ichthyotitan severnensis. Size estimates based on the remains suggest it may have reached about 25 metres in length, potentially making it the largest marine reptile known.

Discovery and naming

Ichthyotitan was identified from exceptionally large jaw-bone fossils found on the Somerset coast in England. The genus and species were formally described in 2024.

Fossil evidence

The animal is known from limited remains, especially lower jaw bones. Because the rest of the skeleton is missing, its full size is inferred by comparison with related ichthyosaurs.

Size and significance

Researchers estimated a body length of roughly 22–26 metres, with some reports citing about 25 metres. That estimate places it among the largest marine reptiles and possibly the largest known ichthyosaur.

Classification and age

Ichthyotitan lived during the Late Triassic, near the end-Triassic extinction interval. It is generally placed among shastasaurid ichthyosaurs or close relatives of that group.