This illustration shows what an ichthyosaur may have looked like.

Courtesy of Dean Lomax (Ruby Reynolds); Sergey Krasovskiy/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images (Ichthyotitan severnensis); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Uncovering a Giant

An 11-year-old discovered the remains of an ancient ocean reptile—the largest ever found. 

October 14, 2024
By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read: What makes the bones that Ruby found special? 

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Ruby Reynolds was on the hunt. It was May 2020. The 11-year-old and her dad had gone to the beach near their home in Somerset, England, to search for fossils. 

Soon after arriving, they spotted a 4-inch-long piece of bone on a rock. Ruby’s dad stopped to examine it while Ruby continued to search. Suddenly, another piece of bone caught her eye. This one was twice as long. 

Ruby didn’t know it then, but she and her dad had just uncovered part of an ichthyosaur (IK-thee-uh-sor). The fossils belonged to the largest ocean reptile ever found!

Ruby Reynolds was on the hunt. It was May 2020. The 11-year-old and her dad had gone to the beach near their home in Somerset, England. They wanted to search for fossils. 

Soon after arriving, they spotted a 4-inch-long piece of bone on a rock. Ruby’s dad stopped to examine it. Meanwhile, Ruby continued to search. Suddenly, another piece of bone caught her eye. This one was twice as long. 

Ruby didn’t know it then, but she and her dad had just uncovered part of an ichthyosaur (IK-thee-uh-sor). The fossils belonged to the largest ocean reptile ever found!   

Ancient Sea Monster 

Ichthyosaurs ruled the seas millions of years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs. They had dolphin-like bodies, flippers, and tails like sharks’. Their long snouts were filled with rows of up to 200 cone-shaped teeth. As they swam, they feasted on fish and squid. 

“Ichthyosaurs are among the coolest creatures to ever live,” says Dean Lomax. He’s a paleontologist who studies the giant beasts.

Ichthyosaurs died out about 93 million years ago. Over time, their bodies rotted away. Some of their bones became fossils—like the ones Ruby found.

Ichthyosaurs ruled the seas millions of years ago. This was during the time of the dinosaurs. Ichthyosaurs had flippers and bodies like a dolphin’s. They also had a tail like a shark’s and long snouts. These snouts were filled with rows of up to 200 cone-shaped teeth. As they swam, ichthyosaurs feasted on fish and squid. 

“Ichthyosaurs are among the coolest creatures to ever live,” says Dean Lomax. He’s a paleontologist who studies the giant beasts.

Ichthyosaurs died out about 93 million years ago. Over time, their bodies rotted away. Some of their bones became fossils—like the ones Ruby found.

An Amazing Discovery 

Ruby and her dad brought the fossils home. After doing some research, they suspected that the fossils were part of an ichthyosaur’s jawbone. They sent pictures of the bones to Lomax and told him about their discovery.

Later, Ruby and her dad returned to the beach with Lomax and his team. Armed with shovels, the group began digging. They found even more pieces of jawbone.

The researchers determined that the fossils belonged to a type of ichthyosaur no one knew of before. They think it lived about 202 million years ago and was 82 feet long. That’s longer than two school buses! 

Today the fossils are on display at a museum in England. Ruby, now 15, is thrilled to have found a piece of history. She encourages other kids to explore.

“You never know where a discovery may take you,” she told reporters.

Ruby and her dad brought the fossils home. Then they did some research. They suspected that the fossils were part of an ichthyosaur’s jawbone. They sent pictures of the bones to Lomax and told him about their discovery.

Later, Ruby and her dad returned to the beach. This time Lomax and his team were with them. Armed with shovels, the group began digging. They found even more pieces of jawbone.

The researchers determined that the fossils did belong to an ichthyosaur. But it was a type that no one knew about before. They think it lived about 202 million years ago. The creature might have been 82 feet long. That’s longer than two school buses! 

Today the fossils are on display at a museum in England. Ruby is now 15 years old. She is thrilled to have found a piece of history. She encourages other kids to explore.

“You never know where a discovery may take you,” she told reporters.

Measuring Up

The fossils that Ruby found belong to a type of ichthyosaur called Ichthyotitan severnensis (IK-thee-oh-teye-tn seh-ver-NEN-sis). Here’s how it stacks up against sea creatures that are alive today.

The fossils that Ruby found belong to a type of ichthyosaur called Ichthyotitan severnensis (IK-thee-oh-teye-tn seh-ver-NEN-sis). Here’s how it stacks up against sea creatures that are alive today.

Shutterstock.com (all images)

1. Why do you think the author calls the fossils that Ruby and her dad found “an amazing discovery”?

2. What does the article tell you about the job of a paleontologist?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Measuring Up”?

1. Why do you think the author calls the fossils that Ruby and her dad found “an amazing discovery”?

2. What does the article tell you about the job of a paleontologist?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Measuring Up”?

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