To watch in HD, get ClipCafe PRO
RAYFIELD: We found out that our upper estimate of bite force
Please log in to add to collections.
Attenborough and the Sea Dragon

We found out thatour upper estimate of bite force was around 30,000 Newtons, and to put...

RAYFIELD: We found out that
our upper estimate of bite force was around 30,000 Newtons, and to put that
in a modern day context, that's twice as powerful as the largest saltwater
crocodile that's been measured

Full Transcript

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.072
RAYFIELD: We found out that our upper estimate of bite force
00:00:03.072 --> 00:00:05.072
was around 30,000 Newtons,
00:00:05.072 --> 00:00:07.036
and to put that in a modern day context,
00:00:07.036 --> 00:00:09.024
that's twice as powerful
00:00:09.024 --> 00:00:11.084
as the largest saltwater crocodile that's been measured.
Duration
12 seconds
Views
37
Timestamp in Movie
00:44:18
Uploaded
Jun 28, 2025
Genres
documentary
Production
BBC

Want This Clip in HD?

Upgrade for HD/4K downloads and unlimited access. Upgrade now →

Movie Summary

Sir David Attenborough investigates the discovery of a 200 million year old Ichthyosaur on the Jurassic Coast in southern England.
ATTENBOROUGH: So, this must have been the animal - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:07
ATTENBOROUGH: So, this must have been the animal
RAYFIELD: Yes. That's absolutely right -- - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:04
RAYFIELD: Yes. That's absolutely right --
Not only did it have a powerful bite, - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:06
Not only did it have a powerful bite,
Now normally in animals where that happens - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:13
Now normally in animals where that happens
RAYFIELD: [Laughs] - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:15
RAYFIELD: [Laughs]
of-how-our-sea-dragon-died - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:44
of-how-our-sea-dragon-died
But can the reconstruction work carried out - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:08
But can the reconstruction work carried out
all-the-blocks-containing-the-fossil-have-now-been-scanned - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:07
all-the-blocks-containing-the-fossil-have-now-been-scanned
With those scans, the team were able to separate - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:12
With those scans, the team were able to separate
based-on-estimates-of-other-ichthyosaur-species - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:09
based-on-estimates-of-other-ichthyosaur-species
thats-magnificent - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
thats-magnificent
MOON: This is the whole animal, - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:06
MOON: This is the whole animal,
MOON: Yes, this is certainly bigger - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
MOON: Yes, this is certainly bigger
MOON: Here are the forelimbs, right at the front, - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:07
MOON: Here are the forelimbs, right at the front,
This is supported by the backbone, - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
This is supported by the backbone,
That gives strength to the lower element of the tail - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
That gives strength to the lower element of the tail
The tail bend is the main propulsive organ of the animal. - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
The tail bend is the main propulsive organ of the animal.
MOON: Yes. These pieces of evidence together suggest - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:07
MOON: Yes. These pieces of evidence together suggest
-ATTENBOROUGH: Historic. -MOON: Yes. - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:05
-ATTENBOROUGH: Historic. -MOON: Yes.
ATTENBOROUGH: This is wonderful news: - Attenborough and the Sea Dragon 00:15
ATTENBOROUGH: This is wonderful news: