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♪♪
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[ Tranquil tune plays ]
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ATTENBOROUGH:
The remains of a dragon
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have just been discovered
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in the cliffs on the
South Coast of England.
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It was an enormous
marine reptile
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that ruled the seas
at the same time
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as the dinosaurs
ruled the land.
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[ Suspenseful music plays ]
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Scientifically,
it's called an ichthyosaur.
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♪♪
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The bones are so well-preserved,
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it may be able
to give us new insights
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into the lives of these
remarkable creatures.
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Together with a team
of scientists,
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we will reconstruct
the skeleton
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and compare it
to animals alive today.
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[ Squeaking ]
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We'll try to understand
how it looked
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and how it survived
in the open ocean.
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Could this be a completely
new species of ichthyosaur?
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Our search for evidence
will lead us
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into an intriguing forensic
investigation into how it died.
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MOORE:
I think you're lookin'
at a 200 million-year-old
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murder mystery.
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ATTENBOROUGH:
Solving that mystery
will throw light
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on the extraordinary world
of the Jurassic ocean.
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♪♪
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[ Theme plays ]
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[ Waves crashing ]
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ATTENBOROUGH:
The story of this
extraordinary dragon
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starts here in Dorset,
on the South Coast of England,
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one of the most important
geological sites in the world:
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the Jurassic Coast.
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♪♪
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It stretches
for almost 100 miles
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from Devon to Dorset.
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♪♪
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And it was here
that the early geologists
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first collected evidence
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that, once, the world was ruled
by monstrous reptiles,
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quite unlike anything alive
on Earth today.
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♪♪
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[ Birds squawking ]
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Evidence of creatures
that existed all that time ago
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can still be found
on these beaches.
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Fossil collectors
have been coming here
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for, literally, centuries
and these rapidly eroding cliffs
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are providing them
with a continuous supply
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of exciting things to find.
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I started looking for fossils
when I was a boy
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and I've never lost the feeling
of excitement and anticipation
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of what one might discover.
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The commonest fossils here are
coiled shells called ammonites
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and you can find them
all over the place.
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There's one here
on this boulder.
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You can see the whorls there,
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but it's mostly been
worn away by the sea.
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But sometimes, if you're lucky,
you can find nodules like this
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and, if you look at them,
you can see
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there's the edge there
of an ammonite
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and, if I hit it...
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I'd better put
on protective glasses.
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If I hit it, it should...
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[ Laughing ]
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How about that?
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[ Laughing ]
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Wow!
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What a find!
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[ Whimsical tune plays ]
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Ammonites, in fact, are quite
common on this beach,
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but, every now and again,
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something truly rare
and spectacular is found here,
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and quite often by this man,
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one of the most skilled
fossil hunters I know.
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Chris Moore has been
collecting fossils here
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for more than thirty years.
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Recently, he came
across a boulder
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which, he thought, might
contain something unusual.
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Back in his workshop,
he exposed a mosaic
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of small, beautifully
preserved bones
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which he knew straightaway
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were the front fins,
the paddles,
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of an ichthyosaur.
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But they were unlike
any he had ever seen before.
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♪♪
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I still collect fossils.
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I even have the remains
of an ichthyosaur,
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a small one, of a kind
that's relatively common.
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This was collected by Chris
about 10 years ago in Dorset.
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I never found anything
as beautiful as this.
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It's got jaws and it's got
teeth and it's got paddles.
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And Dorset
was the very first place
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where they found
a really complete skeleton
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of one of these creatures.
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This is a picture of it,
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published for the very
first time in 1814.
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People thought it was
some kind of monster,
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but what was it?
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They thought it was
a kind of cross
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between a reptile and a fish,
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so they called it
an ichthyosaur,
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a "fish lizard,"
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or "sea dragon."
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[ Suspenseful music plays ]
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Since that time, many fossil
fragments of ichthyosaurs
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have been discovered
on the Jurassic Coast...
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♪♪
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...but complete skeletons
are very rare.
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♪♪
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The particular one
that Chris has just found
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is significantly different
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from any that's ever been
found here before.
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Chris shows me where
he believes the rest
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of the ichthyosaur's body is:
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in the cliff,
above the part of the beach
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where he found the paddles.
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It's in a limestone layer
near the top of the cliff
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and, to reach it, Chris will
have to remove tons of clay.
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♪♪
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In Jurassic times,
sea covered all this area.
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On its floor, sediments
washed down from the land
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turned into layers of shales
and limestone.
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The land rose,
the sea retreated,
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and, now, in the rocks,
you can find the remains
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of the creatures that once lived
in those ancient waters.
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♪♪
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As well as the remains
of ammonites,
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there are the bones of fish,
such as sharks.
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♪♪
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But the top predators
at this time were reptiles,
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ichthyosaurs.
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[ Creatures calling ]
♪♪
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They dominated the seas
for more than 150 million years.
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[ Squeaking ]
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♪♪
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After getting permission to dig,
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the team clamber down the cliff,
to the particular layer
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where the rest of our
ichthyosaur skeleton
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should be lying.
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EXCAVATOR: I'm gonna need
at least another meter
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'cause I need to drop down
to the next bit.
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♪♪
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ATTENBOROUGH:
It's dangerous work:
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These cliffs occasionally
collapse without warning.
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[ Rubble sliding ]
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♪♪
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To make sure that they don't
damage any of the fossils,
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the team do all
the digging by hand.
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♪♪
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EXCAVATOR:
There's just loads of roots.
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[ Laughter ]
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ATTENBOROUGH:
Tons of clay have to be removed
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before they even reach
the layer of limestone
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where they hope the rest
of the bones still lie.
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ALL: Hooray!
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[ Laughter ]
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♪♪
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ATTENBOROUGH:
It was on this
very same coastline,
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more than 200 years ago,
that the first complete skeleton
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of an ichthyosaur
was discovered.
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It was found by a self-taught
fossil hunter
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called Mary Anning in 1811.
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It was then, that the
popular name sea dragon
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was given to these
prehistoric monsters.
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Scientists speculated
on how they lived
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and artists tried to imagine
what they must have looked like
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and how they behaved.
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♪♪
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Back at the cliff face, Chris
and his team are hard at it,
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but, they haven't found
any more bones.
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MOORE:
This is a massive piece,
tomb stone.
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MAN: Right, ready.
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ATTENBOROUGH:
Chris is convinced
that the skeleton
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to which the paddles belonged
must be somewhere here,
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and they check every rock.
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MOORE:
Beautiful shale.
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♪♪
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[ Indistinct conversation ]
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EXCAVATOR: Lovely.
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MOORE:
Anything interesting?
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EXCAVATOR:
Moment of truth.
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Nothing.
-MOORE: [Laughs]
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MAN: Just push it off.
-EXCAVATOR: Yeah.
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♪♪
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MOORE:
Is there anything showing?
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EXCAVATOR:
Nothin' obvious.
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MOORE:
Oh, gosh, that's hard work.
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Ooh!
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♪♪
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I hope there's something here.
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I almost don't want to look.
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♪♪
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MAN: Agh!
-MOORE: Ah!
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MAN #2: Oh, it's bone.
-MOORE: There's a bone.
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EXCAVATOR: Loads of bones
going all the way.
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There's bone there.
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MOORE: [laughing]
There's something here.
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EXCAVATOR: No,
it's all the way along.
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ATTENBOROUGH:
At long last, the team's
efforts are rewarded.
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MOORE:
We've got some bones here!
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EXCAVATOR:
Oh, yeah. Loads here.
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There's loads of bones.
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00:10:02,736 --> 00:10:04,669
MOORE: Fantastic.
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00:10:04,738 --> 00:10:07,005
Ah! What's this?
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Is that a vertebrae?
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00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:10,742
ATTENBOROUGH:
But the bones are not
in the position
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the team had expected
to find them.
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Instead of lying across
the face of the cliff,
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the skeleton seems to be
bending back into it.
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MOORE:
We're gonna have to go
down through there.
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ATTENBOROUGH:
It means much more work.
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00:10:26,526 --> 00:10:27,892
And, to make matters worse,
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[ Thunder rumbling ]
a storm is brewing.
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00:10:31,431 --> 00:10:32,931
MOORE:
The rain's just starting, but,
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I think we've got to make
a bit of a run for it.
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[ Rain striking ]
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00:10:40,307 --> 00:10:42,340
[ Wind whistling ]
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00:10:42,409 --> 00:10:45,644
[ Thunder rumbling ]
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ATTENBOROUGH:
Rough seas and heavy downpours
can cause landslips,
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00:10:49,349 --> 00:10:53,051
which could easily destroy any
chance of retrieving the bones.
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[ Waves crashing ]
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It was after just such a storm
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that Chris found the front
limbs, the paddles,
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00:11:02,129 --> 00:11:03,228
of our sea dragon.
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00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:09,934
They convinced him that the
fossil was something special.
227
00:11:10,003 --> 00:11:12,837
You can see why when you
compare them to the paddles
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of the kind of ichthyosaur
that's usually found here.
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MOORE:
This is an adult and this
is the paddle of this creature
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and, if you compare it
to this one...
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[ Thudding ]
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ATTENBOROUGH:
Oh, it's huge.
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00:11:30,323 --> 00:11:31,723
Oh, yeah.
234
00:11:31,792 --> 00:11:33,825
MOORE:
I've never seen anything
quite like it.
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00:11:33,894 --> 00:11:35,694
ATTENBOROUGH:
There are half a dozen rows
of digits there
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00:11:35,762 --> 00:11:37,062
and how many there?
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00:11:37,130 --> 00:11:39,597
MOORE:
I think there's at least 9
or 10, crossways,
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and, obviously, you know,
many more in length.
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00:11:42,869 --> 00:11:46,037
ATTENBOROUGH:
So it's getting on for twice
the number of digits.
240
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MOORE:
And the whole shape of the fin
is completely different.
241
00:11:48,175 --> 00:11:49,407
ATTENBOROUGH:
Quite, quite different.
242
00:11:49,476 --> 00:11:51,042
And must be new, therefore?
243
00:11:51,111 --> 00:11:53,778
MOORE:
I think so. I've never seen
anything quite like it.
244
00:11:53,847 --> 00:11:55,580
ATTENBOROUGH:
How exciting.
245
00:11:55,649 --> 00:11:57,248
It's extremely rare
246
00:11:57,317 --> 00:12:01,219
to find a new species
of ichthyosaur, these days.
247
00:12:01,288 --> 00:12:03,354
Only nine have been
discovered here
248
00:12:03,423 --> 00:12:06,558
in the last 200 years.
249
00:12:06,626 --> 00:12:09,461
But, can these strange paddles
tell us something
250
00:12:09,529 --> 00:12:13,598
about how this odd
ichthyosaur lived?
251
00:12:13,667 --> 00:12:14,999
To try and find out,
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00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:18,870
we're going to construct
a three-dimensional model.
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00:12:18,939 --> 00:12:23,007
To do that, we first need
to have the paddles scanned.
254
00:12:23,076 --> 00:12:26,177
♪♪
255
00:12:26,246 --> 00:12:29,347
To create an image,
this cutting-edge scanner
256
00:12:29,416 --> 00:12:31,916
takes thousands
of X-ray projections
257
00:12:31,985 --> 00:12:34,285
through the fossil,
in cross sections,
258
00:12:34,354 --> 00:12:35,720
as it rotates.
259
00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:39,958
♪♪
260
00:12:40,026 --> 00:12:44,829
It's not long before
the first images appear.
261
00:12:44,898 --> 00:12:46,865
MOORE: That's amazing.
262
00:12:46,933 --> 00:12:49,167
It's really clear.
263
00:12:49,236 --> 00:12:52,270
You can even see the bones
laying underneath the paddle.
264
00:12:52,339 --> 00:12:53,705
MAVROGORDATO:
At the moment, we're just
doing one section.
265
00:12:53,774 --> 00:12:54,839
MOORE: Yeah.
-MAVROGORDATO: We're going
266
00:12:54,908 --> 00:12:56,374
to do more multiple scans
down the specimen
267
00:12:56,443 --> 00:13:00,411
and build it all back together
into a three-dimensional volume.
268
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,183
ATTENBOROUGH:
The scans of the paddles
are sent to Bristol University.
269
00:13:05,252 --> 00:13:08,319
Here, scientists can isolate
the image of each bone
270
00:13:08,388 --> 00:13:10,688
within the rock
and then assemble them
271
00:13:10,757 --> 00:13:13,858
to create a detailed,
three-dimensional model.
272
00:13:13,927 --> 00:13:17,962
♪♪
273
00:13:18,031 --> 00:13:21,432
The team is particularly excited
by the shape and structure
274
00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:24,502
of these paddles,
and I've come to find out why.
275
00:13:27,908 --> 00:13:29,507
MOON:
We've got a complete
paddle here,
276
00:13:29,576 --> 00:13:31,109
taken from the bones itself,
277
00:13:31,178 --> 00:13:33,411
fully reconstructed,
rearticulated,
278
00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:34,646
so this is as close
as we can get
279
00:13:34,714 --> 00:13:36,681
to what it would've
looked like.
280
00:13:36,750 --> 00:13:38,516
We can actually start
using this paddle
281
00:13:38,585 --> 00:13:41,753
to try and tell us what
species it might've been.
282
00:13:41,822 --> 00:13:43,555
Because of the size
of the paddle
283
00:13:43,623 --> 00:13:45,690
and the way that some
of these bones articulate
284
00:13:45,759 --> 00:13:48,259
with each other, it's different
to other Ichthyosaurus
285
00:13:48,328 --> 00:13:50,662
and so, this could be
a new species.
286
00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:51,830
ATTENBOROUGH:
Oh, that would be great.
287
00:13:51,898 --> 00:13:53,798
MOON:
It would be jolly exciting.
288
00:13:53,867 --> 00:13:58,069
ATTENBOROUGH:
We won't know for sure until
we find the rest of the body.
289
00:13:58,138 --> 00:14:00,305
But can the paddles tell us
something about the way
290
00:14:00,373 --> 00:14:02,974
in which this creature swam?
291
00:14:03,043 --> 00:14:05,009
MOON:
There are a lot of bones
in this paddle,
292
00:14:05,078 --> 00:14:07,078
which would've been good
for holding steady
293
00:14:07,147 --> 00:14:10,148
and also for allowing it to be
maneuverable in the water.
294
00:14:10,217 --> 00:14:12,317
ATTENBOROUGH:
There would've been cartilage
around that, wouldn't there,
295
00:14:12,385 --> 00:14:13,384
somewhere or other?
-MOON: Yes.
296
00:14:13,453 --> 00:14:14,819
All of the gaps
between the bones
297
00:14:14,888 --> 00:14:16,387
would've been filled in
with cartilage
298
00:14:16,456 --> 00:14:18,556
and even further
around the paddle itself,
299
00:14:18,625 --> 00:14:20,291
giving it a paddle-like shape,
300
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,727
giving it a cross section
a bit like an aero foil,
301
00:14:22,796 --> 00:14:24,829
so that it could cut straight
through the water.
302
00:14:24,898 --> 00:14:26,598
♪♪
303
00:14:26,666 --> 00:14:28,399
ATTENBOROUGH:
Could they fold them in
to the side?
304
00:14:28,468 --> 00:14:30,301
MOON:
Probably not.
305
00:14:30,370 --> 00:14:31,870
Looking at the muscles
and where they attach,
306
00:14:31,938 --> 00:14:33,404
it suggests these are
moving up and down,
307
00:14:33,473 --> 00:14:35,139
helping it
to turn very quickly
308
00:14:35,208 --> 00:14:36,608
or keeping it
on the straight and narrow
309
00:14:36,676 --> 00:14:38,943
when it wants to be
a little more sedate.
310
00:14:39,012 --> 00:14:44,449
♪♪
311
00:14:44,517 --> 00:14:47,118
ATTENBOROUGH:
The shape of the paddles
and the way they moved
312
00:14:47,187 --> 00:14:50,188
seems very like the way
an animal alive today
313
00:14:50,257 --> 00:14:53,358
uses its paddles.
314
00:14:53,426 --> 00:14:56,194
That animal usually lives
in tropical waters,
315
00:14:56,263 --> 00:14:58,029
like these in the Caribbean.
316
00:14:58,098 --> 00:15:00,231
♪♪
317
00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:02,967
The sea here is warm,
with temperatures much like
318
00:15:03,036 --> 00:15:07,472
they would've been in Jurassic
times around Britain.
319
00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:10,408
And the animal in question
320
00:15:10,477 --> 00:15:12,043
is the dolphin.
321
00:15:12,112 --> 00:15:13,544
[ Squeaking ]
322
00:15:13,613 --> 00:15:16,481
[ Clicking ]
323
00:15:16,549 --> 00:15:18,516
Dolphins, of course,
are mammals,
324
00:15:18,585 --> 00:15:20,885
not reptiles,
like ichthyosaurs.
325
00:15:20,954 --> 00:15:22,620
[ Clicking ]
326
00:15:22,689 --> 00:15:25,456
Nonetheless, the two groups
have bodies shaped
327
00:15:25,525 --> 00:15:27,125
in very similar ways.
328
00:15:27,193 --> 00:15:29,761
[ Squeaking ]
329
00:15:29,829 --> 00:15:32,096
The front fins,
or paddles, of both
330
00:15:32,165 --> 00:15:33,665
would've helped
to steady themselves
331
00:15:33,733 --> 00:15:35,900
as they turn and cut
through the water.
332
00:15:35,969 --> 00:15:38,303
♪♪
333
00:15:38,371 --> 00:15:41,172
And both have
similar dorsal fins.
334
00:15:41,241 --> 00:15:43,441
[ Squeaking ]
335
00:15:43,510 --> 00:15:46,978
So, although they lived
200 million years apart,
336
00:15:47,047 --> 00:15:51,916
dolphins and ichthyosaurs share
many physical characteristics
337
00:15:51,985 --> 00:15:55,853
and that's because they
evolved in similar ways,
338
00:15:55,922 --> 00:15:58,690
as a response
to a similar environment.
339
00:15:58,758 --> 00:16:08,499
♪♪
340
00:16:08,568 --> 00:16:11,703
Like dolphins, ichthyosaurs
evolved from ancestors
341
00:16:11,771 --> 00:16:14,172
[ Squeaking ]
that had once lived on land.
342
00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,708
As they became adapted
to life in water,
343
00:16:16,776 --> 00:16:19,077
they lost the ability to walk.
344
00:16:19,145 --> 00:16:21,412
Their bodies became
more streamlined
345
00:16:21,481 --> 00:16:24,882
and their forelimbs turned into
paddles, to help them swim.
346
00:16:24,951 --> 00:16:27,919
♪♪
347
00:16:27,988 --> 00:16:32,490
But ichthyosaurs do differ from
dolphins in two striking ways.
348
00:16:32,559 --> 00:16:38,663
♪♪
349
00:16:38,732 --> 00:16:42,066
Dolphins have tails that
are flattened horizontally
350
00:16:42,135 --> 00:16:43,835
and they drive
themselves forward
351
00:16:43,903 --> 00:16:46,237
by beating their tails
up and down.
352
00:16:46,306 --> 00:16:48,573
♪♪
353
00:16:48,641 --> 00:16:51,909
But we know, from their fossils,
that ichthyosaur tails
354
00:16:51,978 --> 00:16:54,779
were flattened vertically,
like those of sharks,
355
00:16:54,848 --> 00:16:57,415
so they must've swum
in the same sort of way:
356
00:16:57,484 --> 00:16:59,984
by sweeping their tails
from side to side.
357
00:17:04,991 --> 00:17:10,228
Ichthyosaurs, unlike dolphins,
also had back paddles.
358
00:17:10,296 --> 00:17:13,531
They, too, would've helped
stabilize them as they swam.
359
00:17:18,705 --> 00:17:21,472
And what's more, the paddles
of our ichthyosaur
360
00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:24,375
are particularly large and long,
361
00:17:24,444 --> 00:17:27,545
rather like those of the
oceanic whitetip shark.
362
00:17:32,652 --> 00:17:36,854
That shape helps the whitetip
to cruise for long distances
363
00:17:36,923 --> 00:17:39,223
with very little
expenditure of energy
364
00:17:39,292 --> 00:17:41,225
in their search for food.
365
00:17:41,294 --> 00:17:42,527
♪♪
366
00:17:42,595 --> 00:17:45,596
[ Calling ]
♪♪
367
00:17:45,665 --> 00:17:48,900
So, it could be
that our ichthyosaur
368
00:17:48,968 --> 00:17:51,602
was also
a long-distance traveler
369
00:17:51,671 --> 00:17:56,240
and only an infrequent visitor
to the Lyme Regis seas.
370
00:17:56,309 --> 00:17:57,975
Which could be why no one
371
00:17:58,044 --> 00:18:00,945
has ever found one
of these here before.
372
00:18:01,014 --> 00:18:08,186
♪♪
373
00:18:08,254 --> 00:18:12,790
Back at the dig site,
the rain has stopped, at last.
374
00:18:12,859 --> 00:18:16,127
The team must try to extract
the rest of the dragon's body
375
00:18:16,196 --> 00:18:20,131
before worse weather arrives.
376
00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:21,532
MOORE:
That's how hard the rock is.
377
00:18:21,601 --> 00:18:24,202
It's actually smashed
the end off the chisel.
378
00:18:24,270 --> 00:18:25,870
So you can see
what we're dealing with.
379
00:18:25,939 --> 00:18:32,743
♪♪
380
00:18:32,812 --> 00:18:36,948
♪♪
381
00:18:37,016 --> 00:18:41,719
ATTENBOROUGH:
At last, they find signs
of the rest of the skeleton.
382
00:18:41,788 --> 00:18:43,721
MOORE:
Lots and lots of bone in there.
383
00:18:43,790 --> 00:18:47,024
MAN: Yeah.
-MOORE: Ribs and all
sorts of stuff.
384
00:18:47,093 --> 00:18:48,326
ATTENBOROUGH:
And there's another,
385
00:18:48,394 --> 00:18:50,194
particularly exciting,
discovery.
386
00:18:50,263 --> 00:18:51,662
EXCAVATOR:
I think it's skin.
387
00:18:51,731 --> 00:18:52,997
MOORE: It's a skin?!
-EXCAVATOR: Yeah, look.
388
00:18:53,066 --> 00:18:54,799
MOORE: Oh, really?
[gasp]
389
00:18:54,868 --> 00:18:58,669
ATTENBOROUGH:
They've found signs
of fossilized skin.
390
00:18:58,738 --> 00:19:00,638
EXCAVATOR: Rare isn't it?
-MOORE: Yeah, very rare.
391
00:19:00,707 --> 00:19:03,708
♪♪
392
00:19:03,776 --> 00:19:06,144
ATTENBOROUGH:
The blocks that contain
bones and skin
393
00:19:06,212 --> 00:19:09,247
can't be thrown down
like the other rocks.
394
00:19:09,315 --> 00:19:13,151
They must be carefully
strapped up and gently lowered.
395
00:19:13,219 --> 00:19:15,953
♪♪
396
00:19:16,022 --> 00:19:17,989
MOORE:
So, first block down,
few more to go,
397
00:19:18,057 --> 00:19:20,424
but if they go like that,
I'll be very pleased.
398
00:19:22,228 --> 00:19:24,529
ATTENBOROUGH:
Two weeks after they
started work,
399
00:19:24,597 --> 00:19:29,167
I go down again
to check on progress.
400
00:19:29,235 --> 00:19:31,802
Chris shows me what
they've already collected.
401
00:19:31,871 --> 00:19:35,606
MOORE:
So, lots over here,
with a bit of a wash.
402
00:19:35,675 --> 00:19:37,275
ATTENBOROUGH:
Ah, well, I can see
something there.
403
00:19:37,343 --> 00:19:38,476
MOORE: Ah! [laughing]
404
00:19:38,545 --> 00:19:39,744
ATTENBOROUGH:
That's more obvious, yes.
405
00:19:39,812 --> 00:19:40,945
MOORE: Yeah.
406
00:19:42,815 --> 00:19:45,483
Here, you can see,
glinting in the sunlight,
407
00:19:45,552 --> 00:19:48,186
sections through the backbone,
the vertebrae column.
408
00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:49,554
ATTENBOROUGH: Wow!
409
00:19:49,622 --> 00:19:51,656
MOORE:
And these are the ribs
that are still
410
00:19:51,724 --> 00:19:56,060
attached to the vertebrae.
And these are the neurals
411
00:19:56,129 --> 00:19:57,628
that come off the backbone.
-ATTENBOROUGH: The spines
412
00:19:57,697 --> 00:19:59,230
off the top of the back?
-MOORE: Yeah. Yeah.
413
00:19:59,299 --> 00:20:01,799
But they've actually got
skin preserved on them.
414
00:20:01,868 --> 00:20:02,934
ATTENBOROUGH: No, really?
-MOORE: Yeah.
415
00:20:03,002 --> 00:20:04,035
ATTENBOROUGH:
Can you see that here?
416
00:20:04,103 --> 00:20:05,937
MOORE:
Well, that's the very black.
417
00:20:06,005 --> 00:20:08,806
You can see it on the
impression as well.
418
00:20:08,875 --> 00:20:10,608
ATTENBOROUGH:
This is great news!
419
00:20:10,677 --> 00:20:12,743
But something puzzles me.
420
00:20:12,812 --> 00:20:15,346
Would the head have been
on this side or that side?
421
00:20:15,415 --> 00:20:20,117
MOORE: Most likely here,
in this next slab.
422
00:20:20,186 --> 00:20:21,852
ATTENBOROUGH:
And it's not there?
423
00:20:21,921 --> 00:20:25,189
-MOORE: Not so far
-ATTENBOROUGH: Oh boy.
424
00:20:25,258 --> 00:20:27,258
How many more tons to go?
425
00:20:27,327 --> 00:20:30,261
MOORE: [Laughs]
426
00:20:30,330 --> 00:20:32,330
ATTENBOROUGH: [Laughs]
427
00:20:32,398 --> 00:20:35,933
MOORE: Only a few.
428
00:20:36,002 --> 00:20:38,002
MAN: Okay.
429
00:20:38,071 --> 00:20:41,906
♪♪
430
00:20:41,975 --> 00:20:46,244
♪♪
431
00:20:46,312 --> 00:20:48,813
ATTENBOROUGH: Once the blocks
are down on the beach,
432
00:20:48,881 --> 00:20:52,116
the team remove as much excess
limestone as possible
433
00:20:52,185 --> 00:20:54,518
to make them lighter.
434
00:20:54,587 --> 00:20:57,154
Even then, they're
extremely heavy,
435
00:20:57,223 --> 00:20:59,223
so to get them back
to Lyme Regis,
436
00:20:59,292 --> 00:21:03,527
they're loaded onto a pontoon
and towed back by boat.
437
00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:09,567
♪♪
438
00:21:09,636 --> 00:21:15,640
♪♪
439
00:21:15,708 --> 00:21:22,546
♪♪
440
00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:26,584
So, for the first time
in 200 million years
441
00:21:26,653 --> 00:21:31,222
our strange ichthyosaur once
again takes to the water.
442
00:21:31,291 --> 00:21:36,360
♪♪
443
00:21:36,429 --> 00:21:42,266
♪♪
444
00:21:42,335 --> 00:21:43,668
The dig may be over,
445
00:21:43,736 --> 00:21:46,937
but the investigation
is only just beginning.
446
00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:52,576
Now the work becomes
more delicate,
447
00:21:52,645 --> 00:21:56,547
involving not sledgehammers,
but small vibrating chisels
448
00:21:56,616 --> 00:21:59,684
that chip off the limestone
in tiny flakes.
449
00:22:04,357 --> 00:22:08,025
It's detailed work that will
take months to complete.
450
00:22:09,329 --> 00:22:11,128
♪♪
451
00:22:11,197 --> 00:22:14,965
Day after day and week
after week, Chris and his team
452
00:22:15,034 --> 00:22:19,837
work patiently to expose
more of the skeleton.
453
00:22:19,906 --> 00:22:21,639
And, as they do so,
454
00:22:21,708 --> 00:22:24,975
the bones reveal something
very intriguing.
455
00:22:25,044 --> 00:22:28,179
♪♪
456
00:22:28,247 --> 00:22:31,082
I've come down to Chris's
workshop to take a look.
457
00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:37,288
MOORE: It's a bit of a squeeze
past the plesiosaur.
458
00:22:39,659 --> 00:22:44,161
ATTENBOROUGH: It really
is an Aladdin's cave.
459
00:22:44,230 --> 00:22:49,767
After weeks of work, Chris has
exposed the backbones and ribs.
460
00:22:49,836 --> 00:22:52,436
-MOORE: So this is it so far.
-ATTENBOROUGH: Gosh.
461
00:22:52,505 --> 00:22:56,040
And, in doing so,
he's made a startling discovery.
462
00:22:56,109 --> 00:22:59,510
MOORE: It looks like
it's been attacked. Gosh.
463
00:22:59,579 --> 00:23:01,846
MOORE: There's breakages
all through the rib cage.
464
00:23:01,914 --> 00:23:04,849
If you follow one rib, you go
along here, down to here,
465
00:23:04,917 --> 00:23:07,418
then this piece
corresponds to this
466
00:23:07,487 --> 00:23:09,353
which then goes over
to here, so...
467
00:23:09,422 --> 00:23:12,356
-ATTENBOROUGH: Oh, there, yeah.
-MOORE: ...one rib is now broken
468
00:23:12,425 --> 00:23:13,858
into three pieces.
469
00:23:13,926 --> 00:23:16,227
ATTENBOROUGH:
How extraordinary.
470
00:23:16,295 --> 00:23:18,696
But what's happened here?
471
00:23:18,765 --> 00:23:23,367
MOORE: Here the vertebrae column
has been actually pulled away.
472
00:23:23,436 --> 00:23:26,303
I'm fairly positive
it was done in life.
473
00:23:26,372 --> 00:23:29,140
And the paddles, the flippers
have been ripped off.
474
00:23:29,208 --> 00:23:31,008
ATTENBOROUGH:
Where would they go?
475
00:23:39,051 --> 00:23:42,086
But they're in a very odd
position, aren't they?
476
00:23:42,155 --> 00:23:44,922
I mean, they're pointing
in the wrong direction.
477
00:23:44,991 --> 00:23:48,159
MOORE: They should be,
basically, in this position
478
00:23:48,227 --> 00:23:49,560
and facing the other way up,
479
00:23:49,629 --> 00:23:53,731
and they've been ripped off
and turned over.
480
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,134
ATTENBOROUGH: Gosh.
Well, where was the head?
481
00:23:57,203 --> 00:23:59,270
MOORE:
The head should be here.
482
00:23:59,338 --> 00:24:01,272
That's the very last vertebrae.
483
00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:03,441
-ATTENBOROUGH: Back of the neck?
-MOORE: Yeah.
484
00:24:03,509 --> 00:24:06,177
So the head's been torn off
485
00:24:06,245 --> 00:24:08,646
and there's no evidence,
there's no teeth
486
00:24:08,714 --> 00:24:11,715
or pieces of bone;
it's completely gone.
487
00:24:11,784 --> 00:24:14,084
ATTENBOROUGH:
So it's a murder?
488
00:24:14,153 --> 00:24:16,187
-MOORE: Yes.
-ATTENBOROUGH: Really?
489
00:24:16,255 --> 00:24:17,755
MOORE: Yeah, I think
it was killed.
490
00:24:17,824 --> 00:24:20,291
ATTENBOROUGH: Did this predator
crunch the head, do you think?
491
00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:21,759
MOORE:
Who knows, you know?
492
00:24:21,828 --> 00:24:23,160
It's 200 million years ago,
493
00:24:23,229 --> 00:24:26,096
so it's a bit of guess
work, really, isn't it?
494
00:24:26,165 --> 00:24:27,898
ATTENBOROUGH: So it's
a murder story
495
00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:30,668
without a complete body yet?
496
00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:36,474
To find out more, we need to
reveal the rest of the skeleton.
497
00:24:36,542 --> 00:24:38,976
♪♪
498
00:24:39,045 --> 00:24:41,245
So it's all hands on deck.
499
00:24:41,314 --> 00:24:48,085
♪♪
500
00:24:48,154 --> 00:24:55,025
♪♪
501
00:24:55,094 --> 00:24:57,828
They've even roped me in.
502
00:24:57,897 --> 00:25:01,565
♪♪
503
00:25:01,634 --> 00:25:06,237
♪♪
504
00:25:06,305 --> 00:25:08,639
[Buzzing]
505
00:25:08,708 --> 00:25:11,542
This is more difficult
than it looks.
506
00:25:16,949 --> 00:25:20,317
MOORE: Very good.
507
00:25:20,386 --> 00:25:22,253
Could you start on 3 days
a week?
508
00:25:22,321 --> 00:25:23,687
ATTENBOROUGH: [Laughs]
509
00:25:23,756 --> 00:25:25,289
Is it alright?
-MOORE: It's good, yeah.
510
00:25:25,358 --> 00:25:27,124
ATTENBOROUGH: I haven't gone
too close to the bone.
511
00:25:27,193 --> 00:25:28,726
MOORE: No, no.
512
00:25:28,794 --> 00:25:32,062
ATTENBOROUGH: Phew,
that's a relief.
513
00:25:32,131 --> 00:25:34,598
But what of the missing head?
514
00:25:35,935 --> 00:25:39,069
If it was been ripped off,
Chris thinks he might
515
00:25:39,138 --> 00:25:42,306
still be able to find it
somewhere on the beach.
516
00:25:42,375 --> 00:25:46,243
So, at every opportunity
he scours the area
517
00:25:46,312 --> 00:25:48,145
where the first block was found.
518
00:25:48,214 --> 00:25:52,583
♪♪
519
00:25:52,652 --> 00:25:55,286
The best time to look
is after a storm
520
00:25:55,354 --> 00:25:58,022
when a strong sea
has moved sand and shingle
521
00:25:58,090 --> 00:26:00,524
and perhaps revealed
the rocks beneath.
522
00:26:09,735 --> 00:26:15,506
♪♪
523
00:26:15,575 --> 00:26:20,311
To try and deduce just how our
Ichthyosaur met its fate,
524
00:26:20,379 --> 00:26:23,914
we've sent images of the fossil
to someone who specializes
525
00:26:23,983 --> 00:26:26,350
in investigating
the cause of death
526
00:26:26,419 --> 00:26:29,086
in pre-historic animals.
527
00:26:29,155 --> 00:26:30,688
MARTILL: You sent me
some photographs,
528
00:26:30,756 --> 00:26:32,323
and I had a look
at some of these breaks.
529
00:26:32,391 --> 00:26:35,593
First of all I noticed
this here...
530
00:26:35,661 --> 00:26:37,061
if you look you can just see
531
00:26:37,129 --> 00:26:38,796
this bulbous piece
on the rib here.
532
00:26:38,864 --> 00:26:41,332
This is where the rib has healed
after a break
533
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,301
and the animal's gone on
to live another day.
534
00:26:44,370 --> 00:26:47,705
This animal's had a little bit
of a bad start in life.
535
00:26:47,773 --> 00:26:49,573
-MOORE: Yes.
-MARTILL: If you look down here
536
00:26:49,642 --> 00:26:51,675
and especially this one
if you look.
537
00:26:51,744 --> 00:26:56,113
This fracture here mirrors
that fracture there
538
00:26:56,182 --> 00:26:59,016
and then we can see
a whole line of fractures
539
00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:01,318
where there's
no new bone growth.
540
00:27:01,387 --> 00:27:05,055
Something has actually
crushed this rib cage.
541
00:27:05,124 --> 00:27:07,091
So look here at these
neural spines -
542
00:27:07,159 --> 00:27:10,794
these are absolutely perfect --
and then from here --
543
00:27:10,863 --> 00:27:13,631
they're broken
all the way down to here --
544
00:27:13,699 --> 00:27:15,432
this is the last one
that's broken
545
00:27:15,501 --> 00:27:17,434
and then here
they're perfect again.
546
00:27:17,503 --> 00:27:21,572
So there to there is damaged,
547
00:27:21,641 --> 00:27:24,942
on the ribs there to there
is damaged and here, too,
548
00:27:25,011 --> 00:27:27,244
and also on some
of these belly ribs.
549
00:27:27,313 --> 00:27:31,415
So I think there's a bite
which goes right across here.
550
00:27:31,484 --> 00:27:32,950
That probably reflects
551
00:27:33,019 --> 00:27:36,353
the width of the skull
of the animal that bit it.
552
00:27:36,422 --> 00:27:37,721
MOORE: Yes. Yep, yeah.
553
00:27:37,790 --> 00:27:39,690
Yeah so it came
in across here almost...
554
00:27:39,759 --> 00:27:41,225
MARTILL: Somewhere
like that yeah.
555
00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:44,995
There was a massive bite;
it caused catastrophic injury,
556
00:27:45,064 --> 00:27:47,731
and remember the rib cage
is protecting lungs.
557
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,334
This was an air-breathing
marine animal
558
00:27:50,403 --> 00:27:53,170
so once this rib cage
is punctured,
559
00:27:53,239 --> 00:27:56,106
and the lungs are punctured,
this animal is dead.
560
00:27:56,175 --> 00:27:57,975
It can't breathe and also
it's going to sink
561
00:27:58,044 --> 00:28:00,010
straight down
to the seafloor as well.
562
00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:04,615
It's quite likely that the
animal that killed this animal,
563
00:28:04,684 --> 00:28:06,617
presumably
it was looking for food --
564
00:28:06,686 --> 00:28:08,085
it didn't get to eat it.
565
00:28:08,154 --> 00:28:09,820
MOORE: Oh, no, I think
it just killed it.
566
00:28:09,889 --> 00:28:11,989
It didn't eat it or else
it wouldn't be so intact.
567
00:28:12,058 --> 00:28:15,292
MARTILL: So this probably all
took place in the surface water.
568
00:28:15,361 --> 00:28:18,162
But as soon as it had done this
injury, this thing just sank
569
00:28:18,230 --> 00:28:20,364
like a stone
straight down to the sea floor
570
00:28:20,433 --> 00:28:22,032
and then it was lost
to the animal
571
00:28:22,101 --> 00:28:24,635
that was trying to eat it.
572
00:28:24,704 --> 00:28:29,306
ATTENBOROUGH:
So it looks as if Chris's
attack theory might be right.
573
00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:32,342
But what type of creature could
possibly have inflicted
574
00:28:32,411 --> 00:28:36,747
so much damage
to our sea dragon?
575
00:28:36,816 --> 00:28:39,850
A rather unusual fossil in
Chris's collection
576
00:28:39,919 --> 00:28:41,552
might give us a clue.
577
00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:52,963
This is fossilized
ichthyosaur droppings
578
00:28:53,032 --> 00:28:55,365
called a coprolite,
579
00:28:55,434 --> 00:28:57,367
and what makes it
particularly interesting
580
00:28:57,436 --> 00:29:02,940
is that within this piece of
dung, you can see fish scales.
581
00:29:06,979 --> 00:29:10,814
So that shows that ichthyosaurs
were fish eaters,
582
00:29:10,883 --> 00:29:13,350
but more than that...
583
00:29:13,419 --> 00:29:16,653
this one is even
more interesting.
584
00:29:16,722 --> 00:29:19,423
Because in this piece of dung
585
00:29:19,492 --> 00:29:24,194
are teeth, ichthyosaur teeth --
586
00:29:24,263 --> 00:29:26,897
so the animal that produced
this
587
00:29:26,966 --> 00:29:30,667
was almost certainly
a cannibal.
588
00:29:30,736 --> 00:29:35,172
It ate
other ichthyosaur species.
589
00:29:35,241 --> 00:29:39,743
Could it be that our dragon was
killed by one of its own kind?
590
00:29:47,453 --> 00:29:48,886
To find out more,
591
00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:53,457
I've come to the Natural History
Museum of Stuttgart in Germany.
592
00:29:56,929 --> 00:29:59,396
Here they have
one of the most impressive
593
00:29:59,465 --> 00:30:03,634
and varied collections
of ichthyosaurs in the world.
594
00:30:06,172 --> 00:30:09,873
They came in all shapes
and sizes.
595
00:30:09,942 --> 00:30:14,478
But of all the ichthyosaurs that
existed 200 million years ago
596
00:30:14,547 --> 00:30:18,115
there was one
which was particularly fearsome.
597
00:30:27,893 --> 00:30:31,061
This is Temnodontosaurus,
598
00:30:31,130 --> 00:30:34,731
one of the biggest of the
sea dragons so far discovered.
599
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,334
They grew up to 10 meters long,
600
00:30:37,403 --> 00:30:39,937
and individual bones
have been discovered
601
00:30:40,005 --> 00:30:45,742
which suggest that they could
grow even bigger than that.
602
00:30:45,811 --> 00:30:49,179
The remains of these terrifying
sea monsters
603
00:30:49,248 --> 00:30:52,716
were discovered in a quarry
just outside Stuttgart.
604
00:30:52,785 --> 00:30:56,520
These are the biggest complete
Temnodontosaurus fossils
605
00:30:56,589 --> 00:30:58,021
ever found.
606
00:31:00,392 --> 00:31:02,593
This huge predator
607
00:31:02,661 --> 00:31:07,664
had the largest eye
known of any animal
608
00:31:07,733 --> 00:31:11,435
which would have given it
extremely acute eyesight.
609
00:31:11,503 --> 00:31:14,738
Not only that, but the eye
was surrounded
610
00:31:14,807 --> 00:31:17,574
by a ring of scutes --
bony plates --
611
00:31:17,643 --> 00:31:21,011
to protect it from
the water pressure at depth.
612
00:31:23,215 --> 00:31:26,049
So, with eyes
the size of footballs,
613
00:31:26,118 --> 00:31:27,951
this monster was able to hunt
614
00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:30,754
at all depths
of the Jurassic ocean.
615
00:31:39,765 --> 00:31:44,067
It also had rows of sharp teeth
616
00:31:44,136 --> 00:31:47,404
that would have allowed it
to rip apart almost anything.
617
00:31:49,975 --> 00:31:53,243
These teeth
are shaped like blades.
618
00:31:53,312 --> 00:31:55,646
Well-suited for
cutting into flesh.
619
00:31:57,850 --> 00:32:01,919
And here's another specimen
of Temnodontosaurus
620
00:32:01,987 --> 00:32:06,657
that is proof positive
that it really was a hunter.
621
00:32:06,725 --> 00:32:10,794
Here is its stomach and inside
its stomach
622
00:32:10,863 --> 00:32:14,965
you can see these tiny,
little circular bones
623
00:32:15,034 --> 00:32:16,366
which are the backbones,
624
00:32:16,435 --> 00:32:19,903
the vertebrae,
of a baby ichthyosaur.
625
00:32:22,041 --> 00:32:23,473
So we now know
626
00:32:23,542 --> 00:32:28,445
that Temnodontosaurus could
devour young ichthyosaurs,
627
00:32:28,514 --> 00:32:30,647
but would one have been capable
of eating
628
00:32:30,716 --> 00:32:34,584
an adult ichthyosaur like ours?
629
00:32:34,653 --> 00:32:36,420
Fossils of Temnodontosaurus
630
00:32:36,488 --> 00:32:38,855
have been found in other
regions,
631
00:32:38,924 --> 00:32:41,258
including the Jurassic Coast.
632
00:32:44,263 --> 00:32:48,465
So this monster could well
be our prime suspect.
633
00:32:50,803 --> 00:32:53,637
To build our case further,
we're going to analyze
634
00:32:53,706 --> 00:32:56,206
another specimen
of the same species
635
00:32:56,275 --> 00:33:00,811
that was found
on the Jurassic Coast.
636
00:33:00,879 --> 00:33:05,315
This is the skull
of a Temnodontosaurus,
637
00:33:05,384 --> 00:33:08,685
and as you can see,
it's huge.
638
00:33:08,754 --> 00:33:10,988
This specimen was found
by Mary Anning
639
00:33:11,056 --> 00:33:14,624
on the Dorset Coast
in the 19th century,
640
00:33:14,693 --> 00:33:17,527
and we are hoping
that we may be able to use it
641
00:33:17,596 --> 00:33:19,963
with the latest techniques
642
00:33:20,032 --> 00:33:25,936
to tell us just how powerful
these great jaws could be.
643
00:33:26,005 --> 00:33:29,406
So, for the first time ever,
our team of scientists
644
00:33:29,475 --> 00:33:33,143
are going to attempt to
calculate the bite strength
645
00:33:33,212 --> 00:33:36,146
of a Temnodontosaurus.
646
00:33:36,215 --> 00:33:38,682
The first step is to scan
the skull.
647
00:33:46,258 --> 00:33:48,058
These scans will help the team
648
00:33:48,127 --> 00:33:51,795
to not only reconstruct
the Temnodontosaurus' skull,
649
00:33:51,864 --> 00:33:55,799
but also work out
the size of its jaw muscles.
650
00:33:55,868 --> 00:33:59,202
They can then assess the power
of this huge predator's bite,
651
00:33:59,271 --> 00:34:03,140
and see if it was strong enough
to kill our ichthyosaur.
652
00:34:05,744 --> 00:34:07,711
Temnodontosaurs are unusual
653
00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:09,846
in that
they had huge sharp teeth
654
00:34:09,915 --> 00:34:12,082
for cutting through flesh.
655
00:34:12,151 --> 00:34:15,952
But how did other ichthyosaurs
catch their prey?
656
00:34:16,021 --> 00:34:20,624
To get a clue I've come to see
a modern day predator in action.
657
00:34:32,104 --> 00:34:36,406
That is a gharial crocodile
658
00:34:36,475 --> 00:34:40,010
from Indonesia.
659
00:34:40,079 --> 00:34:41,745
Its jaws, as you can see,
660
00:34:41,814 --> 00:34:45,615
are not wide and flat
like an African crocodile
661
00:34:45,684 --> 00:34:49,019
but long and thin,
and because of that shape
662
00:34:49,088 --> 00:34:51,254
there's very little resistance
to the water
663
00:34:51,323 --> 00:34:57,994
so they can snatch fish,
which they do very effectively.
664
00:34:58,063 --> 00:35:00,764
They're very formidable
animals indeed.
665
00:35:18,817 --> 00:35:22,519
Ichthyosaurs must have fed
in much the same way as that.
666
00:35:22,588 --> 00:35:26,790
Their jaws were very similar
to those of the gharial.
667
00:35:26,859 --> 00:35:29,793
Simple studs to grip the prey.
668
00:35:29,862 --> 00:35:32,829
No need to chew it,
because the jaws at the back
669
00:35:32,898 --> 00:35:35,132
were quite big enough
to enable the animal
670
00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,134
to swallow their prey whole.
671
00:35:37,202 --> 00:35:39,069
Just as the gharial does.
672
00:35:50,349 --> 00:35:53,817
So it's likely that our
ichthyosaur had teeth and jaws
673
00:35:53,886 --> 00:35:58,655
specially adapted to catch
small slippery fish and squid
674
00:35:58,724 --> 00:36:00,957
just like a gharial crocodile.
675
00:36:04,563 --> 00:36:05,962
♪♪
676
00:36:06,031 --> 00:36:07,364
Back in Lyme Regis,
677
00:36:07,432 --> 00:36:11,034
the work on the bones
has taken a dramatic turn.
678
00:36:13,772 --> 00:36:17,073
Chris has found that there
is fossilized skin
679
00:36:17,142 --> 00:36:19,943
over nearly the whole skeleton.
680
00:36:20,012 --> 00:36:23,413
MOORE: It seems to be virtually
covering the whole thing.
681
00:36:23,482 --> 00:36:27,150
ATTENBOROUGH: It's rare to find
any sign whatever
682
00:36:27,219 --> 00:36:30,587
of skin on fossils,
let alone so much of it.
683
00:36:30,656 --> 00:36:33,990
Fiann Smithwick,
an expert on fossilized skin,
684
00:36:34,059 --> 00:36:37,093
has come to take a sample
back to his lab.
685
00:36:37,162 --> 00:36:39,129
SMITHWICK: We can look and see
if there's any evidence
686
00:36:39,198 --> 00:36:41,798
of the original pigment
preserved in the skin.
687
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:43,300
MOORE:
Oh, it's a lovely piece.
688
00:36:43,368 --> 00:36:45,702
SMITHWICK: That's really good,
that'll be perfect.
689
00:36:45,771 --> 00:36:48,772
ATTENBOROUGH: Fiann hopes that
this remarkably preserved sample
690
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:50,707
might tell us
what the skin looked like
691
00:36:50,776 --> 00:36:53,243
and even what color it was.
692
00:36:53,312 --> 00:36:54,644
♪♪
693
00:36:54,713 --> 00:36:56,646
At the University of Bristol,
694
00:36:56,715 --> 00:37:00,083
he places a tiny sample
of the fossilized skin
695
00:37:00,152 --> 00:37:02,586
in a machine
that coats its surface
696
00:37:02,654 --> 00:37:04,888
with minute particles of gold.
697
00:37:04,957 --> 00:37:10,594
♪♪
698
00:37:10,662 --> 00:37:17,133
♪♪
699
00:37:17,202 --> 00:37:21,671
They will reflect the rays of
a scanning electron microscope.
700
00:37:25,344 --> 00:37:27,510
It's astonishing that you can
actually see
701
00:37:27,579 --> 00:37:30,380
the remains of skin
on such an ancient fossil.
702
00:37:30,449 --> 00:37:35,418
♪♪
703
00:37:35,487 --> 00:37:38,955
But this microscope can also
magnify its structure
704
00:37:39,024 --> 00:37:41,291
tens of thousands of times.
705
00:37:50,269 --> 00:37:52,102
SMITHWICK: Here we have
exceptional level
706
00:37:52,170 --> 00:37:54,337
of preservation
of the skin of our ichthyosaur,
707
00:37:54,406 --> 00:37:56,506
despite being
200 million years old.
708
00:37:56,575 --> 00:37:58,642
So the structures we're looking
at here are around
709
00:37:58,710 --> 00:38:00,176
half a micrometer across.
710
00:38:00,245 --> 00:38:02,646
And a micro meter is
one millionth of a meter,
711
00:38:02,714 --> 00:38:05,115
and you see here
these little granules
712
00:38:05,183 --> 00:38:08,318
and these are preserved
melanosomes.
713
00:38:08,387 --> 00:38:10,053
Now, melanosomes contain
the pigment
714
00:38:10,122 --> 00:38:12,222
that you have in mammal hair,
715
00:38:12,291 --> 00:38:14,858
in bird feathers
and reptile skin,
716
00:38:14,926 --> 00:38:17,193
and the abundance of them
and the distribution of them
717
00:38:17,262 --> 00:38:19,796
can tell us about the overall
color patterns of the animal.
718
00:38:19,865 --> 00:38:22,532
So having a high abundance
means you're likely to be darker
719
00:38:22,601 --> 00:38:25,568
and having a low abundance means
you're likely to be lighter.
720
00:38:25,637 --> 00:38:28,371
This area has come
from the back.
721
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:29,973
There's a large abundance
of these melanosomes,
722
00:38:30,042 --> 00:38:33,076
there's a lot of pigment here
and when we look at samples
723
00:38:33,145 --> 00:38:34,711
that have come from
the bottom of the animal
724
00:38:34,780 --> 00:38:38,214
we don't see this pigment
in this level of abundance.
725
00:38:38,283 --> 00:38:41,618
So it most likely had a much
darker back than it did a belly
726
00:38:41,687 --> 00:38:44,454
and this conforms
to a type of color pattern
727
00:38:44,523 --> 00:38:48,258
known as countershading in
modern animals.
728
00:38:48,327 --> 00:38:49,893
ATTENBOROUGH: You can see
countershading
729
00:38:49,961 --> 00:38:54,464
in lots of sea animals today,
great white sharks for example.
730
00:39:00,572 --> 00:39:03,640
Both predators and prey
are colored in this way.
731
00:39:03,709 --> 00:39:08,078
It makes it more difficult to
see both from above and below.
732
00:39:10,082 --> 00:39:13,049
SMITHWICK:
So this is the first time that
we've actually seen evidence
733
00:39:13,118 --> 00:39:15,518
of a counter-shaded pattern
in an ichthyosaur.
734
00:39:15,587 --> 00:39:17,754
ATTENBOROUGH:
So that really is a step forward
735
00:39:17,823 --> 00:39:19,322
in our knowledge
of these creatures?
736
00:39:19,391 --> 00:39:21,391
SMITHWICK: It is, and
it can tell us a huge amount
737
00:39:21,460 --> 00:39:23,059
about the way the animal
might have lived.
738
00:39:23,128 --> 00:39:24,794
ATTENBOROUGH: Just by looking
at that picture.
739
00:39:24,863 --> 00:39:27,030
SMITHWICK: Just from looking
at these melanosomes.
740
00:39:27,099 --> 00:39:28,732
ATTENBOROUGH: Great.
741
00:39:32,104 --> 00:39:35,772
Today, counter-shaded animals
tend to live in open water
742
00:39:35,841 --> 00:39:37,774
where there's good visibility.
743
00:39:40,312 --> 00:39:43,079
Ichthyosaurs also lived
in the open seas,
744
00:39:43,148 --> 00:39:45,315
so being camouflaged in this way
745
00:39:45,384 --> 00:39:47,484
would have been
very valuable to them.
746
00:39:52,858 --> 00:39:57,127
The latest scientific research
suggests that counter-shading
747
00:39:57,195 --> 00:40:00,897
might also protect
against ultra violet light
748
00:40:00,966 --> 00:40:03,700
and even help to regulate
body temperature.
749
00:40:08,106 --> 00:40:10,006
As an air-breathing creature,
750
00:40:10,075 --> 00:40:12,809
our ichthyosaur would have had
to spend much time
751
00:40:12,878 --> 00:40:16,079
near the surface,
so counter-shading
752
00:40:16,148 --> 00:40:18,848
could have been a benefit
for that reason as well.
753
00:40:27,659 --> 00:40:30,560
There are, of course
many marine reptiles
754
00:40:30,629 --> 00:40:33,430
still living
in the oceans today.
755
00:40:33,498 --> 00:40:35,131
Like turtles.
756
00:40:37,302 --> 00:40:40,770
The biggest of them
is the leatherback,
757
00:40:40,839 --> 00:40:44,274
whose ancestors in fact
were around at the same time
758
00:40:44,342 --> 00:40:46,209
as the ichthyosaurs.
759
00:40:46,278 --> 00:40:49,579
Today they come ashore to nest
in many places,
760
00:40:49,648 --> 00:40:52,816
including the Caribbean.
761
00:40:52,884 --> 00:40:55,885
This huge leatherback turtle
762
00:40:55,954 --> 00:40:59,088
is laying her eggs.
763
00:40:59,157 --> 00:41:03,493
She's hauled her way up
from the sea, and dug a hole,
764
00:41:03,562 --> 00:41:08,665
and now she's depositing
about 100 of them.
765
00:41:08,733 --> 00:41:13,403
She'll then fill in the hole
and then work her way down,
766
00:41:13,472 --> 00:41:16,773
back to the sea.
767
00:41:16,842 --> 00:41:21,110
It's clearly a very
laborious process.
768
00:41:21,179 --> 00:41:23,980
And that's the challenge
facing all reptiles
769
00:41:24,049 --> 00:41:25,615
that live in the sea --
770
00:41:25,684 --> 00:41:29,285
having to come onto land
to lay eggs.
771
00:41:31,189 --> 00:41:35,992
Ichthyosaurs were reptiles
and they lived in the sea,
772
00:41:36,061 --> 00:41:39,162
but they were so well adapted
to a life at sea
773
00:41:39,231 --> 00:41:42,732
that they gave birth
to live young.
774
00:41:42,801 --> 00:41:44,868
And that would have saved
the sea dragons
775
00:41:44,936 --> 00:41:47,403
making the dangerous journey
onto land.
776
00:41:51,576 --> 00:41:54,711
There is remarkable evidence
that ichthyosaurs gave birth
777
00:41:54,779 --> 00:41:57,847
to live young
in the Stuttgart museum.
778
00:41:57,916 --> 00:42:03,019
♪♪
779
00:42:03,088 --> 00:42:08,224
♪♪
780
00:42:08,293 --> 00:42:13,396
♪♪
781
00:42:13,465 --> 00:42:18,568
♪♪
782
00:42:18,637 --> 00:42:24,507
♪♪
783
00:42:24,576 --> 00:42:27,944
And here is a truly
extraordinary,
784
00:42:28,013 --> 00:42:31,714
beautiful, almost
poignant fossil.
785
00:42:31,783 --> 00:42:37,587
Proof positive that ichthyosaurs
gave birth to live young.
786
00:42:37,656 --> 00:42:41,257
Here is the baby
just at the moment
787
00:42:41,326 --> 00:42:43,927
as it's leaving the birth canal.
788
00:42:43,995 --> 00:42:48,498
It comes out tail first
and as soon as it was freed,
789
00:42:48,567 --> 00:42:50,667
it would
have risen to the surface
790
00:42:50,735 --> 00:42:52,936
to take its first breath,
791
00:42:53,004 --> 00:42:57,907
but something happened before
that did and here is the proof.
792
00:43:00,612 --> 00:43:04,380
Whatever it was,
death must have been instant.
793
00:43:04,449 --> 00:43:07,350
♪♪
794
00:43:07,419 --> 00:43:10,720
So ichthyosaurs gave birth
to live babies
795
00:43:10,789 --> 00:43:13,056
just as many sharks do today.
796
00:43:13,124 --> 00:43:18,528
♪♪
797
00:43:18,597 --> 00:43:24,000
♪♪
798
00:43:24,069 --> 00:43:29,505
♪♪
799
00:43:29,574 --> 00:43:34,978
♪♪
800
00:43:35,046 --> 00:43:38,948
After several weeks of research,
the team at Bristol University
801
00:43:39,017 --> 00:43:43,553
have managed to reconstruct the
skull of the Temnodontosaurus
802
00:43:43,622 --> 00:43:48,091
so that they can analyze
the power of its jaws.
803
00:43:48,159 --> 00:43:50,660
How do you assess the strength
of this animal's bite?
804
00:43:50,729 --> 00:43:52,695
RAYFIELD: Well the first thing
that we need to know
805
00:43:52,764 --> 00:43:54,430
is the volume of muscle that
could fit
806
00:43:54,499 --> 00:43:55,932
into the back of the skull.
807
00:43:56,001 --> 00:43:58,067
So the muscles are attaching
round here and there are also,
808
00:43:58,136 --> 00:43:59,736
there's a group of muscles
that are attaching
809
00:43:59,804 --> 00:44:01,304
further forward here,
810
00:44:01,373 --> 00:44:03,606
and if we know how much muscle
volume there is we can estimate
811
00:44:03,675 --> 00:44:05,441
how much force
that muscle can generate.
812
00:44:05,510 --> 00:44:06,976
ATTENBOROUGH:
And what did you discover?
813
00:44:07,045 --> 00:44:09,712
RAYFIELD: We found out that
our upper estimate of bite force
814
00:44:09,781 --> 00:44:11,714
was around 30,000 Newtons,
815
00:44:11,783 --> 00:44:13,349
and to put that
in a modern day context,
816
00:44:13,418 --> 00:44:15,251
that's twice as powerful
817
00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,820
as the largest saltwater
crocodile that's been measured.
818
00:44:17,889 --> 00:44:19,188
ATTENBOROUGH: Twice as powerful?
819
00:44:19,257 --> 00:44:20,390
RAYFIELD: Yes.
820
00:44:20,458 --> 00:44:21,891
ATTENBOROUGH: So that's
enormous. Yeah.
821
00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:23,693
RAYFIELD: Yes, it's a very
powerful bite force.
822
00:44:31,903 --> 00:44:34,671
ATTENBOROUGH: So, this must have
been the animal
823
00:44:34,739 --> 00:44:37,607
with the most powerful bite
of its time, must it?
824
00:44:37,676 --> 00:44:39,409
RAYFIELD: Yes.
That's absolutely right --
825
00:44:39,477 --> 00:44:40,877
Of its time,
it would have been.
826
00:44:40,945 --> 00:44:42,578
Not only did it have
a powerful bite,
827
00:44:42,647 --> 00:44:44,347
its jaw-closing muscles
also attach
828
00:44:44,416 --> 00:44:45,948
quite close to the jaw joint.
829
00:44:46,017 --> 00:44:47,650
Now normally in animals
where that happens
830
00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:50,787
they have quite a fast,
but less forceful bite,
831
00:44:50,855 --> 00:44:52,822
but the fact that this animal
is actually so big
832
00:44:52,891 --> 00:44:54,524
means that it has a fast bite,
833
00:44:54,592 --> 00:44:56,292
but also by virtue of its
sheer size
834
00:44:56,361 --> 00:44:58,327
it also has a powerful bite too.
835
00:44:58,396 --> 00:45:00,697
So it basically has the best
of both worlds.
836
00:45:00,765 --> 00:45:03,166
ATTENBOROUGH: So this was
the king of the Jurassic sea?
837
00:45:03,234 --> 00:45:05,535
-RAYFIELD: Or queen...
-ATTENBOROUGH: Sorry.
838
00:45:05,603 --> 00:45:07,704
[Laughs] Yeah.
839
00:45:07,772 --> 00:45:09,172
RAYFIELD: [Laughs]
840
00:45:11,943 --> 00:45:13,576
ATTENBOROUGH:
So it seems very likely
841
00:45:13,645 --> 00:45:16,412
that temnodontosaurus
was strong enough
842
00:45:16,481 --> 00:45:21,284
not only to kill our sea dragon,
but to rip its head clean off.
843
00:45:24,622 --> 00:45:26,856
It must have been
a terrifying battle.
844
00:45:29,894 --> 00:45:33,362
♪♪
845
00:45:33,431 --> 00:45:37,433
♪♪
846
00:45:37,502 --> 00:45:43,473
♪♪
847
00:45:43,541 --> 00:45:49,512
♪♪
848
00:45:49,581 --> 00:45:55,017
♪♪
849
00:45:55,086 --> 00:46:00,556
♪♪
850
00:46:00,625 --> 00:46:06,863
♪♪
851
00:46:06,931 --> 00:46:10,533
Our investigations have given us
a pretty good idea
852
00:46:10,602 --> 00:46:13,136
of how our sea dragon died.
853
00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:18,641
But can the reconstruction work
carried out
854
00:46:18,710 --> 00:46:22,678
at Bristol University
tell us more about its life?
855
00:46:22,747 --> 00:46:25,047
♪♪
856
00:46:25,116 --> 00:46:29,118
All the blocks containing the
fossil have now been scanned.
857
00:46:29,187 --> 00:46:32,355
With those scans, the team
were able to separate
858
00:46:32,423 --> 00:46:35,458
the individual bones
and then put them back together
859
00:46:35,527 --> 00:46:37,293
to create a 3D image
860
00:46:37,362 --> 00:46:40,396
of the ichthyosaur's body
before it was attacked.
861
00:46:40,465 --> 00:46:43,766
♪♪
862
00:46:43,835 --> 00:46:45,101
They've added a head
863
00:46:45,170 --> 00:46:48,638
based on estimates
of other ichthyosaur species.
864
00:46:48,706 --> 00:46:51,374
♪♪
865
00:46:51,442 --> 00:46:53,042
That's magnificent.
866
00:46:53,111 --> 00:46:54,610
MOON:
This is the whole animal,
867
00:46:54,679 --> 00:46:56,546
and we estimate
that it may have been up
868
00:46:56,614 --> 00:46:58,214
to round about 4 1/2 meters
long.
869
00:46:58,283 --> 00:47:00,249
ATTENBOROUGH: Is that bigger
than most in their line?
870
00:47:00,318 --> 00:47:01,784
MOON:
Yes, this is certainly bigger
871
00:47:01,853 --> 00:47:04,287
than most of the ichthyosaurs
that we see at Lyme Regis.
872
00:47:04,355 --> 00:47:06,289
ATTENBOROUGH:
Looks huge; looks amazing.
873
00:47:06,357 --> 00:47:08,391
MOON: Here are the forelimbs,
right at the front,
874
00:47:08,459 --> 00:47:09,959
and we've got hindlimbs here
875
00:47:10,028 --> 00:47:12,028
and, at the back,
we've got a tail bend.
876
00:47:12,096 --> 00:47:13,763
This is supported
by the backbone,
877
00:47:13,832 --> 00:47:15,932
which extends along
the whole length of the body.
878
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:18,034
ATTENBOROUGH: But that bend
is natural, isn't it?
879
00:47:18,102 --> 00:47:19,135
MOON: Yes.
880
00:47:19,204 --> 00:47:20,403
ATTENBOROUGH:
That's not a break.
881
00:47:20,471 --> 00:47:22,271
That gives strength to the
lower element of the tail
882
00:47:22,340 --> 00:47:24,740
for driving it forward.
-MOON: Yes. Much like a shark.
883
00:47:24,809 --> 00:47:28,444
The tail bend is the main
propulsive organ of the animal.
884
00:47:28,513 --> 00:47:30,713
ATTENBOROUGH:
So could this be a new species?
885
00:47:30,782 --> 00:47:33,616
MOON: Yes. These pieces of
evidence together suggest
886
00:47:33,685 --> 00:47:36,719
that it is going to be a new
species and it's jolly exciting.
887
00:47:36,788 --> 00:47:38,321
They don't come along every day.
888
00:47:38,389 --> 00:47:41,824
-ATTENBOROUGH: Historic.
-MOON: Yes.
889
00:47:41,893 --> 00:47:44,060
ATTENBOROUGH:
This is wonderful news:
890
00:47:44,128 --> 00:47:47,163
a sighting by Chris
on the beach in Lyme Regis
891
00:47:47,232 --> 00:47:51,133
has led to the discovery
of a new species of ichthyosaur,
892
00:47:51,202 --> 00:47:55,438
adding to our knowledge
of these fascinating creatures.
893
00:47:55,506 --> 00:47:58,140
It's extraordinary how much
you can discover
894
00:47:58,209 --> 00:48:00,710
from one single fossil.
895
00:48:00,778 --> 00:48:02,345
Digital reconstruction
896
00:48:02,413 --> 00:48:04,714
has allowed us
to rebuild this animal
897
00:48:04,782 --> 00:48:08,651
to reveal how it looked
and how it moved.
898
00:48:08,720 --> 00:48:11,187
We've discovered
for the first time
899
00:48:11,256 --> 00:48:14,257
that this creature
was counter-shaded,
900
00:48:14,325 --> 00:48:18,461
but that didn't stop it
from being attacked.
901
00:48:18,529 --> 00:48:21,898
By analyzing its bones
we've been able to work out
902
00:48:21,966 --> 00:48:25,368
that its most likely attacker
was the Temnodontosaurs --
903
00:48:25,436 --> 00:48:29,005
the most ferocious predator
of the seas at that time.
904
00:48:29,073 --> 00:48:32,775
♪♪
905
00:48:32,844 --> 00:48:36,078
It's been a fascinating
journey of discovery.
906
00:48:36,147 --> 00:48:40,950
But for me the real wonder
is the bones themselves --
907
00:48:41,019 --> 00:48:43,452
I can't wait to see
what they look like
908
00:48:43,521 --> 00:48:45,154
when they're finally cleaned.
909
00:48:45,223 --> 00:48:49,325
♪♪
910
00:48:49,394 --> 00:48:53,462
♪♪
911
00:48:53,531 --> 00:48:58,234
♪♪
912
00:48:58,303 --> 00:49:02,471
After many months of painstaking
and patient preparation,
913
00:49:02,540 --> 00:49:05,775
Chris and his team have finally
completed their work
914
00:49:05,843 --> 00:49:08,644
on the fossil
of our ancient sea dragon.
915
00:49:20,491 --> 00:49:22,825
MOORE: Here it is finished.
916
00:49:24,162 --> 00:49:26,429
ATTENBOROUGH: Wow.
917
00:49:26,497 --> 00:49:28,597
It's -- it's really beautiful,
isn't it?
918
00:49:28,666 --> 00:49:31,367
I mean, it is beautiful,
that's for sure.
919
00:49:31,436 --> 00:49:33,970
MOORE: Thank you. It's
a great specimen isn't it?
920
00:49:34,038 --> 00:49:35,304
ATTENBOROUGH: Lovely.
921
00:49:35,373 --> 00:49:37,540
And how many new species
have been discovered
922
00:49:37,608 --> 00:49:40,042
in the last 100 years?
923
00:49:40,111 --> 00:49:41,844
MOORE:
Very few, very, very few,
924
00:49:41,913 --> 00:49:44,113
and it's thrilling
to find something that's --
925
00:49:44,182 --> 00:49:46,849
that's, you know,
just never been seen before.
926
00:49:48,953 --> 00:49:51,120
ATTENBOROUGH:
Well, it's a long time spent
927
00:49:51,189 --> 00:49:54,924
just revealing the --
the body of this creature,
928
00:49:54,993 --> 00:49:58,995
but it's also revealed
this extraordinary story
929
00:49:59,063 --> 00:50:02,064
of life and death,
predator, prey,
930
00:50:02,133 --> 00:50:06,969
fighting it out in the seas
200 million years ago
931
00:50:07,038 --> 00:50:09,038
just down there
in the bottom of the lane.
932
00:50:09,107 --> 00:50:10,606
MOORE: Yeah.
It's a fantastic story.
933
00:50:10,675 --> 00:50:11,774
ATTENBOROUGH: Exciting.
934
00:50:11,843 --> 00:50:14,377
Really, really thrilling
and romantic.
935
00:50:17,115 --> 00:50:20,850
For Chris, this has been
a labor of love,
936
00:50:20,918 --> 00:50:26,088
and it's filled in another gap
in the paleontological jigsaw,
937
00:50:26,157 --> 00:50:27,923
a story that all started
938
00:50:27,992 --> 00:50:32,461
with an odd-looking boulder
on a Dorset beach.
939
00:50:32,530 --> 00:50:34,363
It's extraordinary to think
940
00:50:34,432 --> 00:50:38,401
that some 200 million years ago,
941
00:50:38,469 --> 00:50:42,438
exactly here, the greatest
predator of its time
942
00:50:42,507 --> 00:50:46,242
was swimming around in the sea.
943
00:50:46,310 --> 00:50:48,544
And that's what I really love
about fossils
944
00:50:48,613 --> 00:50:50,379
and fossil hunting.
945
00:50:50,448 --> 00:50:54,683
It gives you an extraordinarily
vivid insight
946
00:50:54,752 --> 00:50:58,554
into what the world
was like millions of years
947
00:50:58,623 --> 00:51:02,258
before human beings
even appeared on this planet.
948
00:51:02,326 --> 00:51:08,998
♪♪
949
00:51:09,067 --> 00:51:14,503
Ichthyosaurs died out around
90 million years ago.
950
00:51:14,572 --> 00:51:17,873
No one knows why,
but standing here,
951
00:51:17,942 --> 00:51:21,343
and having excavated
that spectacular fossil
952
00:51:21,412 --> 00:51:23,879
it's not difficult
to imagine a time
953
00:51:23,948 --> 00:51:28,117
when dragons really did
rule the seas.
954
00:51:28,186 --> 00:51:32,988
♪♪
955
00:51:33,057 --> 00:51:37,860
♪♪
956
00:51:37,929 --> 00:51:42,731
♪♪
957
00:51:42,800 --> 00:51:47,603
♪♪
958
00:51:47,672 --> 00:51:52,441
♪♪
959
00:51:52,510 --> 00:51:57,313
♪♪
960
00:51:57,381 --> 00:52:02,551
♪♪
961
00:52:04,955 --> 00:52:07,289
To order this "Nature" program on DVD,
962
00:52:07,358 --> 00:52:12,094
visit shopPBS or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
963
00:52:12,163 --> 00:52:16,132
This program is also available on Amazon Prime Video.
964
00:52:16,200 --> 00:52:21,137
♪♪
965
00:52:21,205 --> 00:52:26,108
♪♪
966
00:52:26,177 --> 00:52:31,080
♪♪
967
00:52:31,149 --> 00:52:36,852
♪♪
968
00:52:36,921 --> 00:52:42,658
♪♪
969
00:52:42,727 --> 00:52:48,430
♪♪
970
00:52:48,499 --> 00:52:51,901
To learn more about what you've seen on this "Nature" program,
971
00:52:51,969 --> 00:52:54,436
visit pbs.org.
972
00:52:54,505 --> 00:52:58,741
♪♪
973
00:52:58,809 --> 00:53:02,978
♪♪
85655
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