Sea Dragons

A new study claims that “sea dragons” that swam at the time of the dinosaurs died due to a dramatic shift in the Earth’s climate.

10:34 10 March 2016

Ichthyosaurs or fish lizards are marine reptiles that swam at the time of the dinosaur. A recent study claims that the whole species became extinct due to the dramatic shift in the Earth’s climate.

 

The study provides another possible explanation as scientists try to solve the mystery of how and why the predators disappeared.

 

Evidence suggests that about 100 million years ago, climate change has resulted in sea level rising to unprecedented heights, a phenomenon that the ‘sea dragons’ could not adapt to.

 

Lead researcher Dr Valentin Fischer of the University of Liège, Belgium, and the University of Oxford, UK, said: "Our results support a growing body of evidence revealing that rising sea levels and sea temperatures profoundly reorganised marine ecosystems about 100 million years ago," 

"The ichthyosaurs were unable to adapt. They were evolving very slowly during the last 50 million years of their reign.

"When the environment changed very rapidly they couldn't keep up with this change."

 

"Although the rising temperatures and sea levels evidenced in rock records throughout the world may not directly have affected ichthyosaurs, related factors such as changes in food availability, migratory routes, competitors and birthing places are all potential drivers, probably occurring in conjunction to drive ichthyosaurs to extinction.”