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A nearly complete skeleton found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast has been classified as a previously unknown species of ichthyosaur, a variety of prehistoric marine reptile that once dominated the oceans.

The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "sword dragon of Dorset" and stands as the only known specimen of its kind.

Scientists report that marks on its skull suggest the "blade serpent" may have been fatally wounded by a attack to the head, potentially inflicted by a much larger species of ichthyosaur.

First discovered by a prolific fossil collector at Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001, the new ichthyosaur was subsequently obtained by a institution in Canada.

Only in recent times been completely studied by experts and a paper published identifying it as a new species of ichthyosaur.

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

"Xiphodracon translates to sword-like dragon and that refers to that very long, sword-like snout, but also the fact that ichthyosaurs have been called sea dragons for about 200 years."

Prehistoric Ocean Creatures

Ichthyosaurs are classified as marine reptiles, rather than dinosaurs, because they lived entirely in the water. The discovered ichthyosaur is thought to have swum the seas about 185 million years ago, a period from which very few ichthyosaur remains have been discovered.

"In this period ichthyosaurs are extremely uncommon, and Xiphodracon is the most complete individual ever found from there, helping to fill a gap," Dr Lomax said. "It's a missing piece of the puzzle in ichthyosaur evolution."

Distinctive Features

The "sword dragon" is thought to have been about 3m in length and has multiple features that have not been seen in other species of ichthyosaur.

• Scientists say the most unusual detail is a fork-shaped bone near its nostril
• The skull has an enormous eye socket
• An extended sword-like snout that it used to consume fish and squid

Existence and Demise

Evidence also exists as to how this specific 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.

"Its head seems to have been bitten by a sizeable hunter - likely a different considerably bigger type of ichthyosaur - giving us a cause of death for this individual. Existence in ancient seas was a dangerous situation."

Finding and Study

This "sword dragon" was discovered in 2001 by paleontology enthusiast Chris Moore and then obtained by the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada where it required more than 15 years to be fully analyzed.

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

The actual number he's discovered is approximately 15, with multiple of them, like the "blade serpent", turning out to be new species.

Mr Moore says he is intending to commemorate the recent finding but has yet to decide exactly how the recognition will take.

"Either sparkling wine or traditional brew, I'm not sure which yet," he says.

This remarkable discovery is among many ichthyosaur remains that have been found along Dorset's Jurassic Coast since the initial findings of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning in the beginning of the nineteenth century.