Rare Acrodus nobilis Shark Tooth Fossil Jurassic Lyme Regis Dorset UK Lower Lias Genuine Jurassic Coast Hybodont Shark Tooth Specimen

Description

Rare Acrodus nobilis Shark Tooth Fossil – Jurassic Coast, Lyme Regis

Presented here is a rare fossil shark tooth belonging to the species Acrodus nobilis, discovered at Black Ven near Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, along the world-famous Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. This genuine specimen originates from the Lower Lias deposits of the Early Jurassic, making it approximately 201–190 million years old.

The fossil has been carefully selected as an attractive collector’s specimen. The listing photograph clearly shows the exact fossil you will receive, ensuring full transparency for collectors and enthusiasts.

This specimen includes a fully hand-signed Premium Certificate of Authenticity, confirming that the fossil is a genuine natural specimen.

Full dimensions and scale can be seen in the listing photographs.

Acrodus nobilis – An Early Jurassic Hybodont Shark

The fossil tooth belongs to Acrodus nobilis, an extinct species of hybodont shark belonging to the family Hybodontidae within the order Hybodontiformes. Hybodont sharks were among the most successful shark groups of the Triassic and Jurassic oceans, occupying ecological niches alongside marine reptiles and other fish.

Unlike many modern sharks with narrow cutting teeth, Acrodus possessed broad, robust crushing teeth adapted for feeding on hard-shelled prey. Their dentition was designed to process organisms such as:

• Ammonites

• Bivalves

• Crustaceans

• Hard-shelled marine invertebrates

The teeth of Acrodus nobilis are particularly distinctive. They typically display:

• A broad flattened crown surface

• Rounded central cusp with smaller lateral cusps

• Strong ridges and ornamentation across the enamel

• A thick root designed for powerful bite forces

These features made Acrodus highly effective at durophagous feeding, meaning it specialised in crushing hard prey items on the Jurassic seafloor.

The Lower Lias – Early Jurassic Marine Environment

This fossil comes from the Lower Lias Group, one of the most fossil-rich marine sedimentary sequences in Europe. These rocks were deposited during the Early Jurassic Period, specifically the Hettangian to Sinemurian stages, approximately 201–190 million years ago.

At this time, much of southern Britain was submerged beneath a warm shallow epicontinental sea connected to the wider Tethys Ocean. Fine sediments accumulated slowly on the seabed, forming mudstones and marls that now make up the Lower Lias cliffs.

The marine ecosystem preserved within these sediments was extraordinarily diverse and included:

• Marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs

• Numerous species of ammonites used for biostratigraphy

• Belemnites and crustaceans

• Bivalves and other shelled invertebrates

• Sharks and bony fish

These fossil-bearing layers are subdivided into precise ammonite biozones, allowing geologists to determine the exact stratigraphic age of many specimens.

Black Ven – A Historic Fossil Site

The fossil was recovered from Black Ven, one of the most productive fossil cliffs near Lyme Regis. These cliffs are composed largely of Lower Lias clays and marls, which are constantly exposed through coastal erosion and landslips.

Lyme Regis has played a major role in the history of palaeontology. Fossils discovered here during the early 19th century helped transform scientific understanding of prehistoric life. The famous fossil collector Mary Anning made many groundbreaking discoveries along these cliffs, including complete skeletons of ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

Even today, the cliffs around Black Ven continue to reveal new fossils, making the area one of the most significant Jurassic fossil localities in the world.

Fossilisation and Preservation

Shark teeth are among the most commonly preserved vertebrate fossils because of their highly mineralised enamel composition. After the shark died, shed teeth or teeth lost during feeding sank to the seabed where they became buried in fine marine sediment.

Over millions of years, mineralisation replaced organic components, preserving the tooth as a fossil within the surrounding rock. Many teeth from the Lower Lias exhibit excellent enamel preservation, often retaining the ridges and surface textures characteristic of the species.

Because sharks continually shed teeth throughout their lives, fossil teeth like this specimen provide valuable insight into the diversity of Jurassic marine predators.

Authenticity and Collector Information

• Genuine fossil specimen – not a cast or replica

• Species: Acrodus nobilis

• Family: Hybodontidae

• Order: Hybodontiformes

• Geological Formation: Lower Lias Group

• Age: Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian), approximately 201–190 million years old

• Locality: Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom

• Includes fully hand-signed Premium Certificate of Authenticity

• The exact specimen shown in the photographs is the fossil you will receive

This rare Acrodus nobilis shark tooth fossil from the historic Jurassic Coast represents an excellent addition to any Jurassic fossil collection, fossil shark collection, or natural history display, offering a genuine piece of Early Jurassic marine life from one of the most famous fossil localities in the world.