Plesiosaur Fossil Reptile Bone Jurassic Coast Black Ven Charmouth Dorset UK

Description

Specimen Overview

Presented here is a genuine Plesiosaur fossil reptile bone recovered from the classic Black Ven Marls at Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, Dorset. This carefully chosen specimen represents authentic skeletal material from a Jurassic marine reptile and preserves natural bone texture and structure within its original sedimentary context. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing details clearly visible in the images. As with all of our fossils, this specimen is 100% genuine and is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Formation & Provenance

The fossil originates from Black Ven, one of the most important fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional exposure of Early Jurassic strata. 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 vertebrate remains to be rapidly buried, protecting them from scavenging and physical damage and enabling long-term fossil preservation.

Fossil Type & Taxonomic Context

Plesiosaurs were extinct marine reptiles belonging to the Order Plesiosauria, a group famous for their broad bodies, paddle-like limbs, and, in many forms, elongated necks. They were highly adapted to life in Jurassic seas and occupied a range of ecological roles as predators of fish and cephalopods. Lower Lias deposits of Dorset are internationally recognised for yielding early plesiosaur material, which has been central to understanding the origins and early evolution of this remarkable group of marine reptiles.

Morphology & Preservation

This fossil bone preserves natural surface texture and internal structure typical of plesiosaur skeletal material, reflecting the dense, robust construction required for powerful swimming. While not assigned to a specific skeletal element, the form and density are consistent with marine reptile bone from the Lower Lias. The fossil remains partially embedded within the surrounding marl matrix, retaining its geological context rather than being a loose or artificially mounted fragment. Preservation from the Black Ven Marls typically results in stable, well-mineralised bone suitable for both display and study.

Depositional Environment & Formation

During the Early Jurassic, the region now forming Dorset was submerged beneath a warm, shallow sea teeming with marine life. Plesiosaurs thrived in these waters alongside ichthyosaurs, ammonites, and belemnites. 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 reptile bones alongside invertebrate fossils and providing a detailed record of Jurassic marine ecosystems.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Plesiosaur fossils from Charmouth and Lyme Regis are historically and scientifically significant, with the area closely linked to early discoveries that helped establish marine reptiles as a key component of Jurassic life. Fossil bone material offers valuable insight into plesiosaur anatomy, growth, and adaptation to aquatic environments. Specimens from Black Ven are especially prized for their reliable provenance and stratigraphic integrity, making them highly desirable to collectors, educators, and enthusiasts of marine reptiles.

Display, Care & Authenticity

This fossil is ideal for display in a private collection, educational setting, or natural history cabinet, offering both authenticity and interpretive value. 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 and scientifically meaningful marine reptile fossil, this Plesiosaur bone from the Black Ven Marls represents an authentic piece of Early Jurassic marine history from one of Britain’s most iconic fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast.