Eurhinosaurus Mistelgauensis

The Jurassic Sea Monster with a Swordfish Snout

Not all spectacular prehistoric finds are dinosaurs—some lurk beneath the waves. In 2025 scientists described Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis, a new species of ichthyosaur, or “fish lizard,” discovered in the ancient limestone quarries of Mistelgau in southern Germany. This marine reptile lived about 180 million years ago and is notable for its swordfish‑like overbite. Its upper jaw protruded far beyond the lower, forming a long, slender snout that may have been used to slash through schools of fish or probe the seafloor for prey.

The fossil is one of the most complete Eurhinosaurus specimens ever found. It includes the skull, vertebral column, ribs and flipper bones, allowing researchers to reconstruct the animal in detail. Eurhinosaurus belonged to a family of ichthyosaurs known for their elongated rostra and streamlined bodies. The new species differs from its relatives by having a more pronounced overbite and distinctive features in the skull and fins. These adaptations suggest a specialised feeding strategy, perhaps analogous to modern swordfish or sawfish that stun prey with rapid sideways slashes.

The Mistelgau site itself is of great geological and cultural significance. The quarries have yielded fossils of marine reptiles, ammonites and giant jurassic bivalves, providing a window into the warm, shallow seas that covered Europe during the Early Jurassic. Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis adds to this picture, showing that ichthyosaurs continued to diversify long after dinosaurs rose to dominance on land. While not a dinosaur, this “sea monster” story reminds us that the Age of Dinosaurs was also an age of spectacular marine reptiles and that every discovery contributes to our understanding of life’s evolutionary experiments.

Credit: Susannah Maidment et al. (2015) / Natural History Museum (cropped)

Sources: ScienceDaily report on Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis.