Ichthyosaur Jaw Section with Teeth Fossil Jurassic Coast Black Ven Charmouth Dorset UK

Description

Specimen Overview

This exceptional specimen is a genuine Ichthyosaur jaw section with preserved teeth, recovered from the renowned Black Ven Marls at Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, Dorset. Jaw material retaining teeth is among the most desirable and informative ichthyosaur fossils, offering a direct glimpse into the feeding anatomy of one of the Jurassic ocean’s top predators. The piece has been carefully selected for clarity, stability, and natural presentation. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing details clearly visible. 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 productive and historically significant fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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 allowed rapid burial of vertebrate remains, protecting delicate skeletal elements such as jaws and teeth from erosion and scavenging.

Fossil Type & Taxonomic Context

Ichthyosaurs were extinct marine reptiles belonging to the Order Ichthyosauria, superbly adapted for life in open seas. With streamlined bodies, powerful tails, and strong jaws armed with numerous conical teeth, they were highly effective predators, feeding primarily on fish and cephalopods. Jaw sections with teeth provide particularly valuable anatomical information, illustrating tooth spacing, implantation, and jaw structure, all of which are key to understanding ichthyosaur feeding strategies and ecology.

Morphology & Preservation

This specimen preserves a section of ichthyosaur jaw with multiple teeth still in situ, demonstrating the characteristic robust, conical dentition typical of Early Jurassic ichthyosaurs. The teeth show natural mineralisation and surface texture, while the jaw bone retains its dense, compact structure. Preservation within the marl matrix has helped stabilise the specimen and maintain its original anatomical context. Such material is far less common than isolated vertebrae or bone fragments, making jaw sections with teeth especially sought after.

Depositional Environment & Formation

During the Early Jurassic, the area now forming Dorset was submerged beneath a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life. Ichthyosaurs thrived in this environment, actively hunting abundant prey. After death, skeletal elements could sink to the seabed and become buried within fine muds. Over millions of years, compaction and mineral replacement transformed these sediments into marl, preserving vertebrate remains alongside ammonites, belemnites, and other classic Lower Lias fossils.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Ichthyosaur fossils from Charmouth and Lyme Regis are internationally recognised and historically important, with the region closely linked to early discoveries that shaped palaeontology. Jaw material with teeth is particularly valuable, as it provides direct evidence of feeding adaptations and predator-prey relationships within Jurassic marine ecosystems. Specimens from Black Ven are prized for their reliable provenance and stratigraphic integrity, making them highly desirable to collectors, educators, and serious fossil enthusiasts.

Display, Care & Authenticity

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

A rare and highly informative marine reptile fossil, this Ichthyosaur jaw section with teeth from the Black Ven Marls represents an authentic and striking piece of Early Jurassic marine history from one of Britain’s most iconic fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast.