Dental discovery has giant marine reptiles all at sea over Swiss Alps

The root of the thickest ichthyosaur tooth found so far, with a diameter of 60 millimetres. © AFP/Rosi Roth

The fossils of three ichthyosaurs – giant marine reptiles that patrolled primordial oceans – have been discovered high up in the Swiss Alps. They include the largest tooth found for the species.

With elongated bodies and small heads, the prehistoric leviathans weighed up to 80 metric tons and grew to 20 metres, making them among the largest animals to have lived.