Description
Plesiosaur Paddle Digit Fossil Bone from the Jurassic Coast of Lyme Regis
This genuine Plesiosaur paddle digit fossil bone originates from the famous Black Ven Marls of the Lower Lias Formation at Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom, part of the internationally renowned Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating to the Early Jurassic Period approximately 200–190 million years ago, this fossil represents part of the flipper structure of one of the most iconic marine reptiles of the Mesozoic seas.
Plesiosaurs were powerful marine predators that inhabited the ancient oceans covering much of what is now southern England during the Early Jurassic. Fossil remains from the cliffs around Lyme Regis have been scientifically important since the early 19th century and contributed greatly to the development of palaeontology as a science.
The specimen shown in the photographs is the exact fossil you will receive, carefully selected for its authenticity and preservation. The fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity with a lifetime guarantee, confirming it is a genuine natural specimen.
Full specimen sizing can be clearly seen in the photographs.
About Plesiosaurs – Marine Reptiles of the Early Jurassic Seas
Plesiosaurs were large marine reptiles belonging to the order Plesiosauria, a group that evolved during the Late Triassic and thrived throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. These animals are well known for their distinctive body plan featuring broad flippers, a streamlined body, and either a long neck with a small head or a shorter neck with a larger skull depending on the group.
Taxonomic classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Plesiosauria
Unlike dinosaurs, which lived on land, plesiosaurs were fully adapted to marine life and propelled themselves through the water using four large paddle-like flippers. The flippers were composed of numerous small bones called phalanges, forming a strong and flexible paddle used for underwater flight.
The discovery of the first scientifically recognised plesiosaur skeleton from Lyme Regis by Mary Anning in 1823 revolutionised early palaeontology and brought international attention to the fossils of the Dorset coast.
Geological Context – The Lower Lias and Black Ven Marls
This fossil originates from the Black Ven Marls, part of the Lower Lias Formation that forms the dramatic cliffs between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. These rocks were deposited during the Early Jurassic Hettangian to Sinemurian stages, when southern Britain was submerged beneath a warm shallow sea.
The sediments consist mainly of alternating layers of clay-rich marls and limestone, deposited on a relatively quiet seabed where fine mud accumulated. Periodic low oxygen conditions allowed the remains of marine animals to be preserved with exceptional detail.
The Lower Lias around Lyme Regis is world famous for its fossil assemblage, which includes:
- Marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs
- Ammonites and belemnites
- Fish fossils
- Bivalves and gastropods
- Crinoids and other marine invertebrates
The Black Ven cliffs are particularly productive due to ongoing coastal erosion that continually exposes new fossil material.
Morphology of a Plesiosaur Paddle Digit Bone
The fossil represents a digit bone (phalanx) from the flipper of a plesiosaur. The flippers of plesiosaurs were highly specialised limbs that evolved from the forelimbs and hind limbs of terrestrial reptile ancestors.
Each paddle consisted of numerous tightly packed phalanges arranged in rows to create a broad and powerful flipper. These bones allowed the limb to function as a rigid paddle, generating lift and propulsion through the water in a swimming style sometimes compared to the flight of sea turtles or penguins.
Typical characteristics of plesiosaur paddle bones include:
- Rounded or slightly elongated phalangeal elements
- Smooth outer bone surfaces
- Compact structure adapted for strength in aquatic locomotion
- Flattened morphology suited to flipper movement
These bones formed part of a complex limb structure that allowed plesiosaurs to manoeuvre efficiently while hunting fish and other marine organisms.
A Genuine Jurassic Marine Reptile Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
This authentic marine reptile fossil represents a genuine piece of the Jurassic marine ecosystem preserved within the cliffs of Lyme Regis, one of the most historically significant fossil sites in the world.
Key features of this specimen include:
- Genuine Plesiosaur paddle digit fossil bone
- Geological formation: Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias
- Age: Early Jurassic Period
- Locality: Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom
- From the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Part of the flipper structure of a marine reptile
- The exact fossil shown in the photographs
- Includes a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee
Fossils from Lyme Regis have played a crucial role in the history of palaeontology and remain among the most sought-after Jurassic fossils in the world. This specimen offers a direct connection to the ancient seas that covered Britain nearly 200 million years ago, preserving part of the limb of one of the most remarkable marine reptiles ever to inhabit those oceans.
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