Dorset man finds fossil of 60ft pre-historic marine reptile
A Dorset man has unearthed a huge 60ft pre-historic reptile fossil at Osmington Beach - and it's been named after him in his honour.
Kevan Sheehan spent five years collecting the 25 pieces, which have now been hailed as one of the best-preserved skulls ever uncovered, as well as one of the most significant fossil finds in the world.
The reptile, which has been named Pilosauru Kevani, dates back 150 million years, and had an 8.5ft-long jaw.
Amateur fossil hunter Mr Sheehan, 68, a retired cafe owner from Osmington, near Weymouth, discovered pieces from the skull after they fell from cliffs on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
He spent five years collecting all the pieces, taking each one back to his cliff-side home in a rucksack, with the largest piece weighing over 12 stone.
Mr Sheehan told the Daily Telegraph: "I am really chuffed to have this new species named after me - I'm delighted and very touched. This has been a real labour of love for me but it was all worth it.
"I guess it's my legacy to the world and it's a great day for Kevans all over the world."
The sea monster would have weighed in at around 12 tons, could have been four times as powerful as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and could have swallowed a great white shark.
It would have had two sets of powerful flippers, and would have preyed on dolphin-like ichthyosaur creatures, as well as squid.
Other pilosaur remains have been found, but this one has been declared a new species.
Dr Roger Benson, of the University of Oxford's earth science department, told the Daily Mail: "This pliosaur was much larger and stronger than other pliosaurs and had more teeth.
"This discovery is very significant for British palaeontology.
"Several other pliosaurs have been found since the 1820s, but they are fragmentary compared to this one."
Mr Sheehan sold the fossil to the county council for £10,000 and it is now on display at the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.
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