Ichthyosaur Paddle Fossil Cut and Polished Lyme Regis Dorset UK Jurassic Coast Marine Reptile Specimen Authentic

Description

Cut and Polished Ichthyosaur Paddle Fossil from Lyme Regis

This genuine Ichthyosaur paddle fossil that has been carefully cut and polished originates from the Black Ven Marls of the Lower Lias Formation at Black Ven near Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom. Lyme Regis forms part of the world-famous Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, an area celebrated for its extraordinary marine fossils preserved within Early Jurassic sediments.

The specimen represents part of the flipper or paddle of an Ichthyosaur, an extinct marine reptile that inhabited the ancient seas of the Jurassic Period. The fossil has been professionally cut and polished to reveal the internal structure of the bones that formed the paddle, allowing the anatomical arrangement of the limb elements to be clearly visible within the rock.

The listing photographs show the exact fossil specimen you will receive, and the full size of the specimen can be viewed in the listing images.

This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming its authenticity and geological origin.

Fossil Identification and Scientific Classification

Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that evolved during the Triassic Period and became highly successful predators in Jurassic oceans. Their streamlined bodies and specialised paddles allowed them to swim efficiently through open water.

Scientific classification includes:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Clade: Diapsida
• Order: Ichthyosauria

Several genera of ichthyosaurs have been discovered in the Lower Lias deposits of Lyme Regis, including Ichthyosaurus and Temnodontosaurus, both of which are known from the Early Jurassic of Dorset.

Ichthyosaurs possessed four powerful paddles formed from modified limb bones. Each paddle consisted of a series of flattened bones known as phalanges, arranged in rows that created a broad, flexible flipper used for propulsion and steering in the water.

Geological Formation and Age

This fossil originates from the Black Ven Marls, part of the Lower Lias Formation, which represents marine sediments deposited during the Early Jurassic Period approximately 199 to 190 million years ago.

The Lower Lias sediments accumulated shortly after the end-Triassic extinction event when shallow seas covered much of southern Britain.

The Black Ven Marls are composed primarily of:

• Dark grey clay-rich marl
• Laminated marine shale
• Fossil-rich sediment layers
• Occasional limestone beds

These sediments were deposited in relatively calm marine conditions that allowed organic material and skeletal remains to become buried and preserved.

Morphology of the Ichthyosaur Paddle

The paddle of an ichthyosaur is one of the most distinctive anatomical features of these marine reptiles.

Key morphological characteristics include:

• Multiple rows of flattened phalange bones
• Compact, tightly packed skeletal arrangement
• Broad paddle shape adapted for swimming
• Dense bone structure suitable for powerful movement

Unlike the limbs of terrestrial reptiles, ichthyosaur paddles were highly specialised for aquatic life. The bones were shortened and broadened to form a rigid flipper that allowed the animal to manoeuvre effectively through the water.

The paddle functioned in combination with the powerful tail, enabling ichthyosaurs to pursue prey such as fish and cephalopods.

Cut and Polished Fossil Preparation

The fossil has been cut and polished to reveal the internal bone structure within the surrounding matrix. This preparation technique allows the arrangement of the paddle bones to be viewed clearly, providing an excellent display of the skeletal anatomy of the limb.

Polishing highlights the contrast between the fossilised bone material and the surrounding rock, allowing collectors to observe the details of the limb structure that might otherwise remain hidden within the matrix.

Cut and polished fossils are particularly valued in display collections because they reveal the internal structure of vertebrate fossils in cross-section.

Marine Environment of the Early Jurassic Dorset Coast

During the Early Jurassic, the region that is now Dorset was submerged beneath a warm shallow sea connected to the Tethys Ocean.

The marine ecosystem included a wide range of organisms such as:

• Marine reptiles including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs
• Ammonites and belemnites
• Bivalves and gastropods
• Marine fish and crustaceans

These organisms lived in a rich marine environment where fine sediment accumulated slowly on the seabed, preserving the remains of marine life within the sedimentary layers.

Fossilisation in the Black Ven Marls

When marine reptiles died, their skeletons sank to the seabed where they could become buried within the soft marine sediment. Over millions of years, the bones became mineralised as groundwater introduced dissolved minerals into the skeletal material.

The fine clay-rich sediment of the Black Ven Marls allowed delicate skeletal elements such as paddle bones to be preserved with remarkable clarity.

Erosion of the cliffs at Black Ven continually exposes fossils from the Lower Lias deposits, making the area one of the most productive fossil localities in Britain.

Fossil Locality of Black Ven and Lyme Regis

Black Ven, located between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, is one of the most famous fossil sites along the Jurassic Coast. The cliffs expose extensive Lower Lias sediments that contain numerous marine fossils.

The area has a long history of fossil discovery and contributed greatly to the early development of palaeontology during the nineteenth century.

Fossils from Lyme Regis are widely recognised and valued due to their connection with this historically important fossil locality.

Authentic Fossil Specimen

This specimen is a genuine Ichthyosaur paddle fossil from the Black Ven Marls of the Lower Lias Formation at Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK.

Key details include:

• Authentic Ichthyosaur paddle fossil
• Cut and polished to reveal internal bone structure
• Marine reptile limb fossil
• Geological Formation: Black Ven Marls
• Stratigraphy: Lower Lias
• Geological Age: Early Jurassic Period
• Stage: Sinemurian
• Locality: Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom
• Fossil from the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Exact specimen shown in listing photographs
• Full sizing visible in listing images
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card

This fossil represents a preserved section of a Jurassic marine reptile paddle from the ancient seas that once covered southern England, making it an exceptional addition to fossil collections, educational displays, and natural history collections.