Shark Fossil Coprolite with Fish Bone and Scale Inclusions Black Ven Lyme Regis Jurassic Coast UK Genuine Specimen with Certificate

Description

Rare Shark Fossil Coprolite with Bone and Scale Inclusions

This remarkable Shark Fossil Coprolite originates from the fossil-rich Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias, on the iconic Jurassic Coast at Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. Coprolites—fossilised droppings—are exceptional windows into prehistoric diets and ecosystems. This particular piece is especially valuable because it contains clearly visible inclusions such as fish bones and scales, offering a direct look into the feeding behaviour of Early Jurassic sharks.

The photographs show the exact piece you will receive, carefully selected for its scientific interest and display quality. Please refer to the images for full sizing.

Geological Context: Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias

The Lower Lias, deposited around 200 million years ago during the Early Jurassic, is globally renowned for its exceptional preservation of marine fossils. The Black Ven Marls consist of fine mudstones laid down in a quiet, shallow marine environment where sediments accumulated rapidly. These conditions helped preserve not only ammonites and marine reptiles but also delicate trace fossils such as coprolites.

Shark coprolites from this horizon are highly sought after because they provide insight into the trophic structure of the Early Jurassic seas. The inclusions of fish bones and scales in this specimen indicate active predation on small fish, demonstrating the ecological role of sharks as mid-level marine predators during this period.

Scientific Importance and Notable Features

This coprolite displays several scientifically significant characteristics:

• Distinctive elongated or rounded form typical of marine vertebrate coprolites
• Visible fish bone fragments embedded within the matrix
• Multiple fish scales, preserved with exceptional clarity
• Natural texture and curvature preserved in fine detail
• Dark, stable mineral composition typical of Lower Lias trace fossils

Such inclusions provide palaeontologists with valuable information on shark diet, digestive processes, and the composition of marine fauna in the Early Jurassic ecosystem.

Depositional Environment and Preservation

The calm, low-energy seabed of the Early Jurassic allowed faecal material to settle and be rapidly buried. Over millions of years, mineralisation replaced organic matter, turning the coprolite into a stable, stone-like fossil while preserving internal inclusions within their original positions. The Black Ven Marls are particularly renowned for producing high-quality coprolites because of their fine-grained matrix and exceptional fossilisation conditions.

The preservation of bones and scales within this coprolite indicates that digestion was incomplete, a common trait in many ancient sharks whose digestive systems processed prey rapidly but not always fully. This snapshot of the feeding process is rarely captured so clearly in the fossil record.

Authenticity, Provenance, and Ethical Collection

All the fossils we offer are 100% genuine specimens, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity for your peace of mind.

The specimen pictured is the exact one you will receive, ensuring complete transparency regarding quality, inclusions, and visual appearance.

A Unique Collector’s Fossil from the Jurassic Coast

This Shark Fossil Coprolite with fish bone and scale inclusions is a scientifically rich and visually fascinating specimen that tells a direct story of ancient predator-prey interactions. It is an ideal addition for collectors, educators, museum displays, or anyone captivated by the remarkable preservation of prehistoric life from the legendary Jurassic Coast.