The partial skeleton discovered in the Fernie Formation in British Columbia, Canada, in 1916, represents a new genus and species of an extinct marine reptile named Ichaosaurus, as stated by an international group of paleontologists.
Photos and interpretation of Fernatator Prentisai skeleton in side view on the left. Image credit: Massare et al.
Fernatator Prentisai existed in North America during the early Jurassic Epoch, approximately 109 million years ago.
“Ichthyosaurs—marine reptiles that superficially resemble dolphins—were prominent marine predators from the early Triassic (Olenek) to the beginning of the late Cretaceous (Cenomanian),” noted Professor Judy Massare from SUNY College.
“They were the dominant large predators of the Triassic and early Jurassic seas.”
“Many partial and complete skeletal remains of early Jurassic ichthyosaurs have been collected, primarily from England and Germany.”
“The early Jurassic Ektisaurus in North America is considered rare,” they emphasized.
“Hence, the discovery of partial skeletal remains from western Canada is significant.”
Excavation of Fernatator Prentisai skeleton. The podium is incomplete, but the additional parts that were lost have since been preserved. T. Prentice At Light, WR Wilson, the general manager of CNP Coal Company, is on the left. Photo taken around 1916, between the Elk River, Morrissey, and Fernie, British Columbia. Photographer unknown. Image credit: Massare et al.
The skeleton of Fernatator Prentisai was found by T. Prentiss in the summer of 1916 while fishing on the Elk River in British Columbia, Canada.
“This specimen represents the most complete ichthyosaur known from the early Jurassic in North America and is one among several ichthyosaur specimens known from the Fernie Formation in western Canada,” the paleontologist remarked.
This new species is a medium-sized ichthyosaur, measuring 3-4 m (10-13 feet) in length, with a distinct combination of features.
“As preserved, the entire skeleton measures 2.8 m long, which includes an impression of the front of the podium,” the researcher added.
“In life, this skeleton likely reached approximately 3.5 m in length, possibly even 4 m.”
“Despite the poor preservation, there is enough identifiable morphology to justify the designation of a new genus and species,” they noted.
“It is characterized by a tall, bar-like orbital, short straight jugals that do not extend beyond the anterior or posterior of the orbit, a long, narrow anterior process of the maxilla, and a cora-like body with a broad curved outer end and a deep anterior region, among other features.”
Fernatator Prentisai symbolizes a sparse record of early Jurassic ichthyosaurs, validated from the Early Jurassic in Canada, and is a significant addition to ichthyosaur taxonomy.
A paper detailing this discovery has been published in the June 2025 issue of the journal Paldicola.
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Judy A. Massare et al. 2025. The most complete early Jurassic ichthyosaur from North America. Paldicola 15(2): 86-99
Source: www.sci.news