An ancient marine predator found in Germany with signs of severe trauma
The remains of a large Jurassic marine predator with signs of severe trauma have been discovered in Germany. This is important because the animal probably did not die immediately after the injuries, but continued to live - and may even have changed its diet to survive.
The find was made in the Mistelgau quarry near Bayreuth in Northern Bavaria. The site is known for its well-preserved marine fossils, especially ichthyosaurs - ancient marine reptiles that resembled modern dolphins in appearance.
Details
The new specimen belongs to the genus Temnodontosaurus. These ichthyosaurs lived in the Early Jurassic, about 180 million years ago, and were among the largest marine predators of their time. The animal found had fragments of the skull and lower jaw, shoulder girdle, front fins, spine and more than 100 teeth.
Based on the length of the skull - about 1.5 metres - the researchers estimated the total size of the animal at about 6.6 metres. The fossil was preserved in three-dimensional form, allowing scientists to examine rare anatomical details, including the structure of the palate, eye sockets and fins.
Most unusual were the signs of damage. The researchers found changes in the skeleton, likely related to injuries to the shoulder girdle and jaw joint. Such injuries could have seriously hindered the animal's ability to catch prey.
However, it appears to have lived for some time after the injuries. This is indicated by the severely abraded teeth and gastroliths - stones found in the abdominal region. Gastroliths are extremely rare in such ichthyosaurs, so researchers speculate that the animal may have changed its diet or way of eating to adapt to the injuries.
Why it matters
The find shows that large Jurassic marine predators could survive even after serious injuries. This provides a rare opportunity to see not just the anatomy of an ancient animal, but traces of its life - of disease, injury and adaptation.
In addition, this specimen turned out to be one of the youngest known members of the genus Temnodontosaurus in the southwest German basin. This means that such large ichthyosaurs may have persisted in the region for longer than previously thought.
Background
Ichthyosaurs were not dinosaurs. They are a distinct group of marine reptiles that lived in the Mesozoic and were well adapted to life in the ocean. Many of them had streamlined bodies, large eyes, and powerful jaws.
The genus Temnodontosaurus is known for its large size and predatory lifestyle. The new find from Mistelgau is also important because it is not preserved as a flat print, but in a three-dimensional form - a rarity for such fossils.
Source
The study is published in the journal Zitteliana in 2026: A partial skeleton of Temnodontosaurus cf. trigonodon in three-dimensional bone preservation from the upper Toarcian of Mistelgau, Germany. The authors studied a partial skeleton of an ichthyosaur from Northern Bavaria, including trauma marks, teeth and gastroliths.