Ichthyosaur Fossil Bone Jurassic Lyme Regis Dorset UK Lower Lias Black Ven

Description

Genuine Ichthyosaur Fossil Bone from the Jurassic Coast

Offered here is a genuine Ichthyosaur fossil reptile bone recovered from the renowned Black Ven Marls, Black Ven, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Dorset, along England’s world-famous Jurassic Coast. This specimen has been carefully selected for authenticity, preservation, and scientific interest, retaining its natural fossil character. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, allowing full confidence in what you are purchasing. Full sizing details are clearly shown in the photos.

This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, ensuring long-term confidence in provenance and collectability.

Geological Formation and Age

This ichthyosaur bone originates from the Lower Lias Group, deposited during the Early Jurassic Period, approximately 199–191 million years ago, within the Sinemurian Stage. The Black Ven Marls consist of fine marine mudstones and marls formed in a shallow epicontinental sea that once covered much of southern Britain. This formation is internationally significant for its abundance of marine reptile fossils and its importance in reconstructing Early Jurassic marine ecosystems. Continuous coastal erosion at Black Ven regularly reveals new fossil material, making this locality one of the most productive and historically important fossil sites in Europe.

Fossil Type and Biological Context

Ichthyosaurs were highly specialised marine reptiles, adapted for fast, efficient swimming in open seas. With streamlined bodies, powerful tails, and paddle-like limbs, they occupied a role similar to modern dolphins. The fossil preserved here is an isolated ichthyosaur bone, representing part of the skeletal structure that supported locomotion and overall body form. Isolated bones such as this are common within the Black Ven Marls and provide valuable insight into the anatomy, growth, and distribution of ichthyosaurs in Early Jurassic seas.

Morphology and Preservation

This specimen shows the dense, robust structure typical of ichthyosaur bones, adapted to withstand the mechanical stresses of active swimming. Natural mineralisation has enhanced durability while preserving surface texture and overall shape. The fossil retains its three-dimensional form, allowing the proportions and contours of the bone to be clearly appreciated. Preservation within original marine sediment further supports authenticity and adds to the specimen’s scientific and display value.

Depositional Environment

During the Early Jurassic, the Charmouth and Lyme Regis area lay beneath a warm, shallow marine environment rich in ammonites, belemnites, fish, and marine reptiles. Fine sediments settled slowly on the sea floor, allowing vertebrate remains to be buried before significant disturbance. Periodic low-oxygen conditions reduced scavenging and decay, contributing to the preservation of isolated skeletal elements such as this bone. These environmental conditions are responsible for the remarkable concentration of ichthyosaur material found within the Black Ven Marls.

Collecting, Display, and Educational Value

This Ichthyosaur fossil reptile bone is well suited for serious fossil collectors, educational collections, museum displays, or statement interior presentation. Its classic British provenance, clear geological context, and direct association with iconic Jurassic marine reptiles make it both scientifically informative and visually compelling. Ichthyosaur fossils from Lyme Regis are historically significant, closely linked to the foundations of palaeontology in Britain. Each specimen we offer is individually selected, ensuring you receive an authentic and carefully curated piece of Early Jurassic marine reptile history from one of the world’s most important fossil localities.