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

Description

Specimen Overview

This impressive specimen is a genuine Ichthyosaur jaw section with preserved teeth, recovered from the renowned Black Ven Marls at Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, Dorset. Fossils retaining both jaw bone and teeth are among the most informative ichthyosaur remains, offering direct insight into the feeding anatomy of these highly successful Jurassic marine reptiles. This piece has been carefully chosen for its clarity, stability, and strong 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 important fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossil-bearing strata 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 of vertebrate remains, allowing delicate skeletal elements such as jaws and teeth to be preserved alongside abundant ammonites and other marine fossils.

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 elongated jaws armed with numerous conical teeth, they were dominant predators of Jurassic oceans. Jaw sections with teeth provide particularly valuable anatomical evidence, illustrating tooth implantation, spacing, and jaw robustness, all of which reflect feeding strategies focused on capturing fish and cephalopods.

Morphology & Preservation

This specimen preserves a section of ichthyosaur jaw with multiple teeth still in situ. The teeth display the classic conical form typical of ichthyosaurs, designed for gripping slippery prey rather than cutting. The jaw bone itself shows dense, compact structure, reflecting the strength required for active predation. Preservation within the surrounding marl matrix has helped stabilise the fossil and retain its original anatomical context. Such jaw material is far less common than isolated vertebrae or bone fragments, making this a particularly desirable specimen.

Depositional Environment & Fossilisation

During the Early Jurassic, the region now forming Dorset was submerged beneath a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life. Ichthyosaurs thrived in this environment, feeding extensively on fish and ammonites. After death, skeletal elements could settle onto the seabed and become rapidly buried by fine muds. Over millions of years, compaction and mineralisation transformed these sediments into marl, preserving marine reptile remains alongside the classic invertebrate fossils of the Lower Lias.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Ichthyosaur fossils from Charmouth and Lyme Regis are internationally recognised and historically significant, with the area closely linked to early discoveries that shaped the development of palaeontology. Jaw sections with teeth are especially important, as they provide 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 both strong visual impact and scientific value. 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 life from one of Britain’s most iconic fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast.