Rare Lobster Claw Fossil in Androgynoceras Green Nodule Jurassic Charmouth Lyme Regis Lower Lias Coast Dorset UK

Description

Rare Lobster Claw Fossil in Androgynoceras Green Nodule

This very rare fossil specimen preserves a lobster claw within an Androgynoceras ammonite green nodule from the famous Green Ammonite Beds of the Lower Lias, collected on the Jurassic Coast around Charmouth and Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. Fossils of crustacean claws are far less commonly encountered than ammonites from this locality, making this an especially interesting and highly collectable association piece from one of Britain’s most historic fossil-bearing coastlines.

The fossil is preserved in a natural green nodule, a classic form of preservation from the Lower Jurassic marine deposits of the Dorset coast. These nodules are well known for producing ammonites, marine reptile remains, fish material and occasional crustacean fossils, with the nodule often protecting delicate fossil material that might otherwise be lost to coastal erosion. The presence of a lobster claw alongside an Androgynoceras ammonite gives the specimen strong visual and scientific interest, linking two different forms of Lower Jurassic marine life within a single display piece.

Geological Location and Age

This specimen comes from the Green Ammonite Beds, Lower Lias Group, Jurassic Coast, Charmouth and Lyme Regis area, Dorset, UK. The beds form part of the Lower Jurassic marine sequence exposed along this internationally important coastline. These sediments were deposited in an ancient shallow to moderately deep marine environment during the Early Jurassic, when the region that is now Dorset lay beneath a warm sea.

The Green Ammonite Beds are especially associated with fossiliferous mudstones, limestones and calcareous nodules. The greenish colouration of many nodules from these beds is a distinctive feature and is often linked with mineral-rich sedimentary conditions during fossilisation. The Jurassic Coast is one of the most famous fossil collecting areas in the world, particularly for ammonites and other marine fossils from the Lower Jurassic.

Lobster Claw and Crustacean Detail

The claw represents part of a decapod crustacean, the group that includes lobsters, crabs and shrimps. Crustacean fossils from the Lower Lias are generally more delicate than ammonites, as the exoskeleton and appendages can be easily broken apart before burial. For this reason, identifiable claw material preserved in a nodule is a much rarer find than the common ammonite shells for which the Charmouth and Lyme Regis coast is best known.

The claw would have belonged to a marine crustacean living on or near the sea floor, where it may have scavenged, hunted small prey or used its appendages for defence and feeding. Preservation within a nodule suggests that the remains were rapidly buried and mineralised within the sediment, allowing this unusual fossil association to survive for around 190 million years.

Androgynoceras Ammonite Association

The associated Androgynoceras ammonite adds further geological and display value to the specimen. Androgynoceras is a Lower Jurassic ammonite genus known from Pliensbachian marine deposits and is recognised by its coiled shell form and ribbed ornamentation. Ammonites were free-swimming cephalopods related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus, and their rapid evolution makes them extremely useful for dating Jurassic rock layers.

The combination of crustacean claw material and Androgynoceras within a green nodule makes this a particularly appealing specimen for collectors interested in rare associations, British Jurassic fossils, Dorset palaeontology and display-quality natural history pieces.

Discovery, Preparation and Authenticity

This fossil was discovered by our own team members, Alister and Alison, and has been cleaned, prepped and treated by Alison. It is a carefully chosen piece, with the photo showing the actual specimen you will receive. Full sizing please see photo.

This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a fully hand-signed Premium Certificate of Authenticity. It is ideal for fossil collectors, Jurassic Coast enthusiasts, natural history displays, educational collections, museum-style cabinets and anyone seeking a rare British Lower Jurassic fossil with strong locality and geological interest.