Shark Coprolite Fossil Lower Lias Jurassic Coast Black Ven Lyme Regis Dorset UK Specimen

Description

Shark Coprolite Fossil from the Jurassic Coast

This authentic Shark Coprolite Fossil was discovered at the iconic Jurassic Coast locality of Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK, an area famed for producing world-class Early Jurassic fossils. The specimen was found by our team members Alister and Alison on 06 November 2025 and has been expertly cleaned, prepared, and stabilised by Alison to ensure clarity, preservation, and display quality. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, with a 1cm scale cube included for accurate size reference. As with all our fossils, it is a 100% genuine specimen and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Species Background: Shark Coprolites and Their Scientific Importance

Coprolites are fossilised faeces, offering rare insight into the diet and behaviour of prehistoric animals. Shark coprolites are particularly valuable because shark skeletons consist largely of cartilage, which fossilises poorly. As a result, their coprolites often provide more information about their presence than skeletal remains.

The coprolite offered here likely originated from an Early Jurassic shark belonging to the subclass Elasmobranchii, which includes modern sharks, rays, and skates. These ancient sharks inhabited the warm marine environments that once covered southern England. Shark coprolites typically preserve internal textures, spiral markings, and mineralised structures that reflect digestive processes, prey items, and even the anatomy of the animal’s intestinal tract.

This specimen displays the classic morphology associated with shark coprolites from the Lower Lias, including cylindrical shaping, surface texture variations, and mineralised internal layering. These features provide valuable palaeoecological information and help palaeontologists infer feeding behaviour and prey composition.

Geological Setting: Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias

This fossil originates from the Black Ven Marls, a richly fossiliferous unit of the Lower Lias Group, deposited during the Hettangian–Sinemurian stages of the Early Jurassic, roughly 196–190 million years ago. These marls and finely laminated mudstones were laid down in a quiet, offshore marine basin characterised by:

• Low-oxygen conditions, ideal for fossil preservation
• Fine sedimentation, capturing delicate biological structures
• Limited scavenger activity, allowing organic material to fossilise intact

Black Ven is one of the most famous palaeontological localities in the world and was extensively collected by historic figures including Mary Anning. Today it continues to yield exceptional marine fossils including ammonites, ichthyosaur remains, fish bones, belemnites, and diverse coprolites.

Morphology and Notable Traits

This shark coprolite displays preservation features typical of Lower Jurassic specimens:

• Elongated or cylindrical shape, reflecting original intestinal passage
• Mineralised outer surface, consistent with early diagenetic processes
• Fine surface textures, including subtle striations or layered structures
• Dense internal mineralisation, strengthening and stabilising the fossil

The fossil’s form and texture are characteristic of elasmobranch digestive processes. The internal composition may contain microfragments of prey such as fish scales, crushed invertebrates, or other organic traces, although these are often microscopic and represented only through internal structure.

Depositional Environment and Palaeoecological Context

During the Early Jurassic, the Lyme Regis area formed part of a shallow but nutrient-rich sea teeming with life. Sharks played an important predatory role in this ecosystem, preying on small fish, invertebrates, and cephalopods such as belemnites. Their coprolites accumulated on the seafloor and were rapidly buried by fine sediments, beginning the long process of phosphatisation and mineral replacement.

The Black Ven Marls represent a low-energy depositional setting, where anoxic conditions enabled exceptional preservation of soft-associated biological material, including coprolites. Fossils from this environment provide a detailed window into marine food webs shortly after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event.

Collector Appeal and Display Value

Shark coprolites are fascinating fossils prized by collectors, educators, and palaeontology enthusiasts. They offer a direct glimpse into ancient predator behaviour and complement collections of marine reptile, fish, and ammonite fossils from the same region. This specimen’s strong preservation, clear morphology, and exceptional locality provenance make it a standout palaeoecological piece.

The careful preparation by Alison ensures the fossil’s natural features are clearly visible and stable for long-term display. Whether showcased in a collection, used in educational settings, or appreciated for its unusual scientific value, this coprolite is a captivating link to the Early Jurassic seas.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.