Shark Fossil Coprolite with Fish Bones Jurassic Coast Black Ven Lyme Regis Dorset UK

Description

Specimen Overview

Offered here is a genuine shark fossil coprolite (fossilised excrement) recovered from the renowned Black Ven Marls at Lyme Regis, Dorset, along the world-famous Jurassic Coast. This carefully chosen specimen is notable for its visible inclusions, including fish bones and scales, preserved within the coprolite. Such inclusions provide rare, direct evidence of prehistoric feeding behaviour and trophic interactions. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, with full sizing details clearly visible. As with all of our fossils, this piece is 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Formation & Provenance

The coprolite originates from Black Ven, one of the most productive and scientifically important fossil localities on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossil-bearing sediments belong to the Lower Lias Group, deposited during the Early Jurassic Period, approximately 199–196 million years ago. The Black Ven Marls were laid down in a relatively calm offshore marine environment, where fine-grained muds accumulated on the seabed. These conditions were ideal for the rapid burial and preservation of organic material, including coprolites and their internal contents.

Fossil Type & Biological Origin

Coprolites are trace fossils, representing fossilised faecal material rather than skeletal remains. This specimen is attributed to a shark, an early cartilaginous fish that occupied a key predatory role in Jurassic seas. Sharks of the Early Jurassic were active hunters, feeding primarily on fish and smaller marine organisms. Coprolites attributed to sharks commonly contain bone fragments and scales, as these materials resist digestion and become encapsulated during fossilisation. As such, coprolites provide uniquely direct insight into diet and behaviour that skeletal fossils alone cannot offer.

Morphology & Inclusions

This coprolite exhibits an irregular, compact form consistent with marine vertebrate origin. Within the fossilised mass, fish bones and scales are visibly preserved, confirming a piscivorous diet. The inclusions are naturally distributed through the coprolite, reflecting digestion and expulsion prior to burial. The preservation of identifiable prey remains significantly enhances both the scientific and educational value of the specimen, allowing direct interpretation of predator–prey relationships in Early Jurassic marine ecosystems.

Depositional Environment & Fossilisation

During the Early Jurassic, the area now forming Dorset lay beneath a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life. Sharks thrived in this environment, coexisting with ammonites, marine reptiles, and abundant fish. After being expelled, faecal material sank rapidly to the seabed and was buried by fine muds. Over millions of years, mineralisation transformed this organic material into stone, preserving both the coprolite and its inclusions. Black Ven is particularly well known for producing well-preserved coprolites due to its fine sediments and favourable geochemical conditions.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Shark coprolites from Lyme Regis and Black Ven are highly regarded for their scientific importance. Unlike skeletal fossils, coprolites provide direct evidence of feeding behaviour, diet composition, and ecosystem structure. Specimens with visible inclusions such as fish bones and scales are especially sought after by collectors, educators, and institutions due to their rarity and interpretive value. Fossils from Black Ven are internationally recognised for their reliable provenance and stratigraphic integrity.

Display, Care & Authenticity

This fossil is ideal for display in a private collection, educational setting, or natural history cabinet, offering both visual interest and behavioural insight into Jurassic marine life. The specimen has been carefully cleaned to reveal natural features, with no artificial enhancement or reconstruction. You will receive the exact fossil shown, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its geological origin and genuine nature.

A rare and scientifically informative trace fossil, this shark coprolite with fish bone and scale inclusions from the Black Ven Marls represents an authentic and fascinating piece of Early Jurassic marine history from the Jurassic Coast, Dorset, UK.