"Paleontologists Identify Mysterious 150-Year-Old Bones as Giant Ichthyosaur Jaws"
Paleontologists may have finally identified the mysterious fossilized bones found across Europe as belonging to a massive species of ichthyosaur, based on new research published in the journal PeerJ. The bones, which have puzzled researchers for 150 years, are now believed to be from the lower jaw of an enormous sea creature measuring between 82 and 98 feet long. The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Bonn, who found that the bone fragments contained unique collagen interweaving, characteristic of ancient ichthyosaurs. These ancient sea reptiles, which lived during the Mesozoic Era, had streamlined bodies similar to modern dolphins or sharks and are thought to have become extinct due to factors such as climate change and competition with other marine predators.