Ichthyosaur Scapula Fossil Lyme Regis Dorset UK Lower Jurassic Marine Reptile Bone Charmouth Mudstone Formation Authentic Specimen

Description

Authentic Ichthyosaur Scapula Fossil from Lyme Regis, Dorset

This genuine Ichthyosaur scapula fossil originates from the famous Lower Jurassic deposits of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast of southern England. Preserved within the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, this specimen dates to the Early Jurassic Sinemurian–Pliensbachian stages, approximately 199–183 million years ago. Lyme Regis forms part of the internationally recognised UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, one of the most historically significant fossil localities in the world.

The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive and has been carefully selected for authenticity and display quality. The specimen includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming that the fossil is a genuine prehistoric marine reptile bone.

Full sizing can be viewed in the photographs provided.

Ichthyosaurs – Streamlined Marine Reptiles of the Jurassic Seas

Ichthyosaurs were highly specialised marine reptiles belonging to the order Ichthyosauria, a group that dominated the oceans during much of the Mesozoic Era. Their name means “fish lizard,” reflecting their streamlined body shape that evolved for efficient life in open water.

These reptiles possessed a powerful crescent-shaped tail, a long snout filled with conical teeth for catching fish and cephalopods, and four paddle-like flippers used for steering and manoeuvring. Large eyes allowed them to hunt in dimly lit waters, making them highly effective predators.

The scapula, or shoulder blade, was an important part of the pectoral girdle, connecting the body to the front flippers. In ichthyosaurs this bone played a key role in supporting the musculature and skeletal structure required for powerful swimming.

Fossilised scapula bones provide important insight into the anatomy and locomotion of these marine reptiles, revealing how their forelimbs were anchored to the body and used to control movement in the water.

Geological Formation – Charmouth Mudstone Formation

This fossil was preserved in the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, a Lower Jurassic geological unit exposed along the coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset. The formation consists primarily of dark marine mudstones and shales that accumulated in a quiet offshore marine basin.

During the Sinemurian and Pliensbachian stages, southern Britain was submerged beneath a warm epicontinental sea connected to the vast Tethys Ocean. Fine sediments slowly settled to the seabed, burying the remains of marine organisms.

These sediments created excellent conditions for fossil preservation. The Charmouth Mudstone Formation has produced an extraordinary variety of fossils including ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, fish, and marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

The cliffs around Lyme Regis are continually eroded by the sea, exposing new fossils that have made the region one of the most famous fossil collecting locations in the world.

Morphology of the Ichthyosaur Scapula

The scapula in ichthyosaurs formed part of the shoulder girdle that connected the body to the front flippers. Unlike the shoulder blades of terrestrial reptiles, the ichthyosaur scapula evolved to function within a fully aquatic body plan.

These bones were typically broad and robust, providing attachment points for muscles that controlled the movement of the forelimbs. The pectoral girdle worked in combination with the humerus and other limb bones to support the powerful paddle-like flippers used in steering and stabilisation while swimming.

Fossilised scapulae often preserve the original bone shape and surface texture, allowing palaeontologists to study the skeletal adaptations that enabled ichthyosaurs to thrive in marine environments.

Jurassic Marine Ecosystem of Dorset

During the Early Jurassic, the region that is now southern England was covered by a shallow marine shelf environment rich in marine life. Ammonites and belemnites were abundant, while fish and marine reptiles formed the upper levels of the food chain.

Ichthyosaurs were among the most successful predators in these seas. They hunted actively in open water and are believed to have been fast swimmers capable of pursuing prey over considerable distances.

When ichthyosaurs died, their bodies sometimes sank to the seabed where they were buried in fine mud sediments. Over millions of years, these sediments lithified into rock while the bones became mineralised, preserving them as fossils.

Authenticity and Collector Information

This fossil is a genuine specimen from the Lower Jurassic Charmouth Mudstone Formation of Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, providing full transparency for collectors.

Each specimen includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming that the fossil is authentic.

This ichthyosaur scapula fossil makes an exceptional addition to any fossil collection, marine reptile display, Jurassic Coast specimen set, or natural history collection focused on the extraordinary marine reptiles of the Early Jurassic seas. Fossils from Lyme Regis remain among the most historically important and desirable specimens in British palaeontology.