Rare Caturus Fossil Fish with Teeth Jurassic Lyme Regis Dorset UK Black Ven Marls Genuine Jurassic Coast Fish Fossil Specimen with COA

Description

Rare Caturus Fossil Fish with Teeth – Jurassic Coast, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Offered here is a rare fossil fish specimen of the genus Caturus, preserved with visible teeth and recovered from the renowned Black Ven Marls at Black Ven near Lyme Regis, Dorset, England. This remarkable fossil originates from the Lower Lias of the Early Jurassic, part of the internationally famous Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This specimen represents an authentic piece of Jurassic marine life dating back approximately 201–190 million years. The fossil has been carefully selected for quality and display appeal, and the listing photograph shows the exact specimen you will receive.

The fossil includes a fully hand-signed Premium Certificate of Authenticity, confirming that it is a genuine fossil specimen.

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

Caturus – A Predatory Jurassic Ray-Finned Fish

The fossil fish Caturus belongs to the extinct family Caturidae, within the order Amiiformes, a group of ray-finned fishes related to the modern bowfin (Amia calva). These fishes were active marine predators that thrived during the Jurassic Period.

Caturus species are characterised by their elongated bodies, strong jaws, and sharp teeth designed for catching smaller fish and marine organisms. Fossils of this genus are well known from Jurassic marine deposits across Europe, where they represent an important component of the ancient marine ecosystem.

Typical features of Caturus include:

• Slender, streamlined body suited for fast swimming

• Large jaws with numerous sharp conical teeth

• Powerful predatory feeding adaptations

• Well-developed dorsal and caudal fins for maneuverability

The presence of preserved teeth on this specimen highlights its role as a mid-level marine predator, hunting smaller fish and invertebrates in Jurassic seas.

Black Ven Marls – Lower Lias Geological Formation

This fossil originates from the Black Ven Marls, part of the Lower Lias Group, a sequence of Early Jurassic marine sediments exposed along the cliffs of the Dorset coast.

These rocks were deposited during the Hettangian to Sinemurian stages of the Early Jurassic, approximately 201–190 million years ago. At that time, southern Britain was covered by a shallow epicontinental sea connected to the wider Tethys Ocean.

The sediments consist primarily of fine-grained mudstones and marls, which accumulated in relatively calm marine environments. Such conditions allowed delicate organisms—including fish, marine reptiles, and invertebrates—to be preserved with exceptional detail.

The Lower Lias deposits of Lyme Regis are famous for producing fossils including:

• Ichthyosaurs

• Plesiosaurs

• Ammonites

• Belemnites

• Crustaceans

• Numerous fossil fish species

These fossil-rich beds are also subdivided using ammonite biozones, which provide precise stratigraphic dating for the Early Jurassic marine sequence.

Lyme Regis and the Historic Jurassic Coast

The cliffs around Lyme Regis represent one of the most historically important fossil localities in the world. Fossils from this region have been studied for over two centuries and played a key role in the development of palaeontology.

Many famous discoveries were made by Mary Anning, whose fossil finds—including complete ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs—revolutionised scientific understanding of prehistoric marine reptiles.

The Black Ven cliffs, located east of Lyme Regis, remain one of the most productive sites along the Jurassic Coast. Continuous coastal erosion exposes new fossil-bearing layers, making the area a globally significant source of Jurassic fossils.

Fish fossils such as Caturus provide valuable insight into the structure of Early Jurassic marine food webs.

Preservation and Fossil Characteristics

Fossil fish from the Black Ven Marls are often preserved within fine laminated clay sediments, which can retain remarkable anatomical detail. In specimens such as this one, features like teeth, skeletal elements, and body outlines may be preserved within the rock matrix.

The dark coloration often seen in these fossils results from mineralisation within organic-rich marine sediments, which replaced the original biological material over millions of years.

Such specimens provide an important window into Early Jurassic marine ecosystems, illustrating the diversity of fish species inhabiting these ancient seas.

Authenticity and Collector Information

• Genuine fossil specimen – not a cast or replica

• Fossil Species: Caturus sp.

• Geological Formation: Black Ven Marls, 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 fossil shown in the photographs is the specimen you will receive

This rare fossil fish from the historic Jurassic Coast is a superb addition to any Jurassic fossil, marine life, or vertebrate palaeontology collection, and represents an exceptional example of Early Jurassic marine biodiversity preserved in the famous rocks of Lyme Regis.