Ichthyosaur Fossil Reptile Bone Jurassic Coast Black Ven Charmouth Dorset UK

Description

Specimen Overview

Offered here is a genuine Ichthyosaur fossil reptile bone recovered from the iconic Black Ven Marls at Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, Dorset. This carefully chosen specimen represents a real fragment of an Early Jurassic marine reptile and preserves natural bone texture and form within the original sedimentary context. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, and full sizing details are clearly visible in the images. As with all of our fossils, this specimen is 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Formation & Provenance

The fossil originates from Black Ven, one of the most important and productive fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of international significance. The fossil-bearing sediments belong to the Lower Lias Group, deposited during the Early Jurassic Period, approximately 199–196 million years ago. The Black Ven Marls consist of fine-grained marine mudstones laid down in a relatively calm offshore environment. These conditions were ideal for the rapid burial and preservation of marine vertebrates alongside abundant invertebrate fossils such as ammonites and belemnites.

Fossil Type & Taxonomic Context

Ichthyosaurs were extinct marine reptiles belonging to the Order Ichthyosauria, highly adapted for life in open oceans. With streamlined bodies, powerful tails, and paddle-like limbs, they occupied a role similar to modern dolphins and were among the dominant predators of Jurassic seas. Fossil bone material from ichthyosaurs is commonly encountered in the Lower Lias of Dorset and has been crucial in understanding their anatomy, growth, and evolutionary adaptations to marine life.

Morphology & Preservation

This fossil bone preserves natural surface texture and internal structure, allowing appreciation of the density and form typical of ichthyosaur skeletal material. While not assigned to a specific skeletal element, the bone’s robust nature reflects the strong, compact construction required for active swimming. The fossil remains partially embedded within the surrounding marl matrix, retaining its geological context rather than being a loose or isolated fragment. Preservation from the Black Ven Marls often results in stable, well-mineralised bone suitable for long-term display and study.

Depositional Environment & Formation

During the Early Jurassic, Dorset lay beneath a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life. Ichthyosaurs thrived in these waters, feeding on fish and cephalopods. Following death, skeletal elements could settle on the seabed and become buried within fine muds. Over millions of years, compaction and mineralisation transformed these sediments into marl, preserving bone material alongside other classic Jurassic fossils. This environment explains the frequent association of marine reptile remains with ammonites in the Black Ven strata.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Ichthyosaur fossils from Charmouth and Lyme Regis are internationally recognised and historically significant, with the region closely linked to early palaeontological discoveries that shaped the science. Fossil bone fragments provide valuable insight into ichthyosaur biology and the broader marine ecosystems of the Early Jurassic. Specimens from Black Ven are particularly prized for their reliable provenance and stratigraphic integrity, making them desirable to collectors, educators, and enthusiasts of marine reptiles.

Display, Care & Authenticity

This fossil is well suited for display in a private collection, educational environment, or natural history cabinet, offering both scientific interest and visual authenticity. The specimen has been carefully cleaned to reveal natural features, with no artificial restoration or reconstruction applied. You will receive the exact specimen shown, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its geological origin and genuine nature.

A genuine piece of Early Jurassic marine reptile history, this Ichthyosaur fossil bone from the Black Ven Marls represents an authentic and meaningful addition to any fossil collection from the Jurassic Coast.