For decades, a fossil collected in southern Germany lay unexamined in the storage vaults of a regional museum. It had been catalogued, archived, and largely forgotten. Only recently did researchers realize its significance: a remarkably preserved marine reptile that represents a new species from the Early Jurassic period, boasting an unusual body plan that could reshape understanding of ichthyosaur evolution.
Formally named Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis, the species was described in a peer-reviewed study published in Fossil Record on September 25, 2025. Discovered in the fossil-rich Mistelgau clay pit in Bavaria and housed at the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken, the specimen includes nearly complete skeletons recovered from sediments known as belemnite battlegrounds—dense layers of ancient squid-like cephalopods.
Its anatomy is startlingly distinct: a jaw that juts forward like a swordfish’s snout, massive ribs hinting at exceptional swimming strength, and a skull-neck joint configuration unseen in other ichthyosaurs.
A New Predator in an Ancient Ocean
The genus Eurhinosaurus, first described in the 19th century, is already known for its dramatically elongated upper jaw—an adaptation believed to aid in slicing through prey or sediment. But E. mistelgauensis presents a more complex anatomical profile. Alongside the expected overbite, researchers documented unusually robust ribs and a distinct cranio-cervical articulation, suggesting a unique swimming style or feeding strategy.
The study’s lead author, Gaël Spicher, a paleontologist at the JURASSICA Museum in Switzerland, emphasized how these differences pointed to niche specialization:
“We wanted to highlight the scientific importance of the Mistelgau locality,” he said in the official release via EurekAlert. “Without the regular fieldwork and careful curation by the museum, we wouldn’t have recognised this species.”
Two nearly complete specimens and one partial snout, all preserved in three dimensions, were excavated from the same sedimentary layer—dated to the Upper Toarcian stage of the Early Jurassic, approximately 182 million years ago. The fossils were embedded in a 4-meter-long slab of sediment packed with cephalopod remains, consistent with a high-productivity marine environment.
Pushing the Boundaries of Time and Space
The discovery significantly extends the known stratigraphic range of the Eurhinosaurus genus. Previously, no members of the group had been identified beyond the lower Toarcian. The Mistelgau fossils thus mark the youngest known occurrence of Eurhinosaurus, updating the evolutionary timeline for one of the most distinctive marine reptiles of the Jurassic.
This also marks the first time the genus has been confirmed in Bavaria. The paleogeographic expansion suggests that Eurhinosaurus species were more adaptable—and potentially more widespread—than earlier fossil evidence implied.
Dr. Serjoscha Evers, director of the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken and quoted in the EurekAlert release, called the find a validation of long-term fossil stewardship:
“The naming of a new species emphasizes the significance of the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken’s fossil collections for understanding Jurassic marine ecosystems.”
Evers was not involved in the study but credited the museum’s systematic excavations since 1998 as a key factor in enabling the discovery.
Trauma in the Bones Tells a Deeper Story
In addition to its anatomy, E. mistelgauensis is offering researchers new insights through its pathological features. Several bones show signs of trauma or deformation, potentially from injury, disease, or even predator interactions. The original study dedicates a full section to these pathologies, noting signs of healed fractures and irregular growths that could indicate survival after injury .
Such evidence is rare in marine reptiles of this period and may provide crucial clues about behavior, predation pressures, and environmental stressors. Future work by Spicher’s team will focus on microstructural analysis to better understand growth rates, injury recovery, and age profiles—offering a more detailed picture of life and death in Jurassic oceans.
“We’re only beginning to explore what these injuries can tell us,” Spicher said in comments published by Daily Galaxy. “Injuries, wear patterns, bone growth—each detail adds a piece to the puzzle of how these animals lived and interacted.”
The identification of Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis is not just a paleontological success—it’s a stark reminder of how much science remains locked in storage. The Mistelgau fossils, excavated decades ago and left largely untouched, were hiding in plain sight. Their rediscovery points to the underappreciated scientific potential of legacy collections in regional and national museums.