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A new pliosaur from the Kimmeridgian deposits at Kimmedige has just been revealed to the world! Rumours have been going around about it for some time, but now the source of the rumours has been revealed, and it's spectacular! Belonging to the genus Pliosaurus, to judge from it's age and tooth morphology, it's one of the best preserved - if not best preserved - skull of its kind! https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67650247?fbclid=IwAR3ukvNzGPSxBdhBp3Z3zrIEJZEbDki1ezYhSrCaLjpYVUIsc_nOGPexuDs

Hi everyone, I recently bought this tooth on a whim. It was described as Diplocynodon sp. from the Kimmeridge Clay and reworked into the Albian-age Faringdon Sponge Gravels at the Wicklesham Pit. However, this description is obviously wrong in either species attribution or locality, since Diplocynodon is an alligatoroid genus dating to the Paleocene to middle Miocene, and could therefore not possibly have been found in the Sponge Gravels as Wicklesham Pit. Going by the label that came with the tooth, however, the seller whom I bought the tooth from just copied the information on the label provided by the person they bought the tooth from (I think I recognize the labelling-style, which means I may have a lead to trace the provenance - although that would very much depend on how long records are kept by that other seller and on how long ago the tooth left them). As the tooth isn't rolled, as much of the material form the Sponge Gravels is, and in preservation also doesn't match the buff through orange to deep red colours of most other Kimmeridge Clay material I've seen - whether from Faringdon or elsewhere (mainly Abingdon) - I'm pretty confident this tooth doesn't come from the reworked deposits at Wicklesham Pit. Rather, the state of preservation reminds me of finds from the Oxford Clay. In fact, the root of the tooth has some black deposit on it, that I take to be oxidized pyrite - something I've learned from this thread to be a not uncommon feature of Oxford Clay fossils. Another option as to the tooth's origin is that the tooth could come from Hamstead on the Isle of Wight, where Diplocynodon is known to occur. The dark/black colouration of the tooth and traces of what appears to have been buff-coloured matrix - as opposed to the light grey one of the Oxford Clay - may point in that direction. Though I consider this possibility less likely than the Oxford Clay one for the reasons set out below. Turning to morphology, the tooth doesn't seem to quite match examples of Diplocynodon I've been able to find online. For, while my tooth is densely ornamented with strong striations and exhibits - as far as I can make out - only one possible carina ("possible", as it may just be an apicobasal ridge), other teeth I've seen are mostly smooth/unornamented with what look to be two carinae (although alligatoroid teeth can have anywhere from zero through two carinae and I've also been able to find at least one Diplocynodon-tooth specimen with striations). Moreover, my tooth is conical, which at least rules out the more robust "short but wide" Diplocynodon morphotype. Diplocynodon hantoniensis teeth, Lower Hamstead Beds , Hamstead, Isle of Wight (source) Diplocynodon sp. teeh from the Faluns of Touraine, region of Savigné (source) Diplocynodon hantoniensis from the Eocene deposits at Barton, Hampshire; note the striations This brings us to a closer examination of the features of the tooth's ornamentation, as seen under a microscope. Visible are not just the black deposit on the root and strong and dense striations referred to above, but also what I make out to be remnants of the fossil's original yellow matrix; reticulation of striae; striations stopping close to the base of the tooth, rather than reaching the full apicobasal height; the overall texture of the enamel in between of the striae; and partial cross-section through the tooth enamel. In particular with respect to the cross-section, it may be useful to have a look at the below illustration, figure 4 from McCurry et al. (2019). For, of course it could just be my imagination, but I see greatest similarity with specimen A - that is, the brachauchenine tooth marked as P. interruptus (but see here for a discussion on the validity of this species). Cross-sections through the teeth of A. Polyptycodon interruptus, B. Globidens alabamensis, C. Goniopholis crassidens, D. Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, E. Ichthyosaurus communis, F. Zygorhiza kochii Similarly, if I look at the below diagram of dental ornamentation amongst various clades of marine animal (figure 2, ibid.), I find greatest semblance with tooth D, sauopterygia, pliosauridae indet. (although an argument could be made for A, crocodylomorpha, Deinosuchus rugosus, could be made as well). Phylogenetic distribution and morphological similarity of apicobasal ridges: A. Deinosuchus rugosus; B. Spinosaurus; C. Ichthyosaurus; D. Pliosauridae indet.; E. Globidens alabamensis; F. Hydrurga leptonyx; G. Mammalodontidae indet. I see further comparability in ornamentation when looking at images of the below tooth: As such, I believe that the tooth under discussion here is, in fact, a pliosaur tooth from the Oxford Clay. Moreover, seeing as the density of the striae all round and smooth enamel surface in between, I'm thinking the tooth might belong to Simolestes vorax. However, the traces of yellow matrix make me wonder whether the tooth indeed derives from the Oxford Clay, whereas the few vermiculations visible at the base of the tooth - rare on S. vorax - and the tooth's overall colour make me hesitant whether this might not actually be a Liopleurodon ferox (although I'd think the density of striations would be quite high, in that case; but for comparison with another small L. ferox tooth, see here). As it stands, I guess my questions are: Are the traces of yellow I'm seeing on the tooth indeed remnants of matrix, or could they be dried up glue? Where was the tooth found, what deposits does it derive from? Did it indeed come out for the Kimmeridge Clay, or did it come from either Oxford Clay or Hamstead Beds? Does this correlate with the traces of matrix seen on the tooth? Considering the geological origin of the tooth, is it more likely to be crocodilian or pliosaurian? Is the species attribution correct? That is, if crocodilian, is this indeed a Diplocynodon tooth? And if it were pliosaurian, does it belong to S. vorax or L. ferox? Thanks for your help! @paulgdls @PointyKnight @DE&i @RuMert @Jesuslover340 @caterpillar

I'm new member and asking for help in identification of the fossil pictures below. I have a tag from the previous owner that says this is "Ichthyosaurus sp / Jurrasic Period / Kimmeridge Clays/ England. Can anyone confirm this description is accurate ? The specimen is 10cm across. 3cm thick and weighs in at 1 pound 8 oz. Any and all help appreciated!

This fossil is in my collection for a while now. It is a quite heavy propodial found in Weymouth, Dorset, UK. It measures about 27cm in length. It's 12cm wide at the end, 6cm wide at the start. The centre part is 5 to 6 cm thick. I suppose it is Pliosaur (Stretosaur?), but it might be Plesiosaur instead? Thanx for opinions!

Hey folks, got a big one to cross-check with everyone. It's a partial....something. Does this match any identifiable features seen on theropods, like the shape of a pubis or scapula? Location: Oxfordshire, England Size: 220mm X 221mm Any help would be muchos appreciated. Cheers!

New 'sea dragon' species discovered by amateur fossil hunter off English coast By Jack Guy, CNN, December 10, 2020 The open access paper is: Jacobs, M.L. and Martill, D.M., 2020. A new ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic (Early Tithonian) Kimmeridge Clay of Dorset, UK, with implications for Late Jurassic ichthyosaur diversity. Plos one, 15(12), p.e0241700. Yours, Paul H.

Hey everyone, recently came across this partial vertebra from the Kimmeridge Clay online, apparently collected south of Oxford. It measures 9.5cm x 8.5cm. The seller tentatively identified it as a Stegosaurid based on the internal pattern visible on the polished side, and subsequently assigned it to Dacentrurus, since it's the only Stegosaurid fitting the time and location. I tried to find more information on these supposed patterns indicative of Stegosaurs without much success, so I'd like to ask: › Is the vertebra actually identifiable on a family level? › If so, what are the defining characteristics and where could I read up about them? Thanks for your help!

I'm not sure, but it almost appears to be two types of Serpula entombed in this nodule. Would anyone agree. Kimmeridgian Kimmeridge Clay UK

A nicely detailed piece of fossiled wood (branch) found from the Carstone formation (Albian stage, Early Cretaceous) which uncomformably overlies the Kimmeridge Clay. Not really sure if this has derived from the Kimmeridge Clay itself, but would be interested to know.

This is a derived fossil I picked up from the Carstone Formation (Albian stage, Early Cretaceous) which has Kimmeridge clay below. It doesn’t have the appearance of any marine reptile bone structures that I’m familiar with as that was my first thoughts Right side view Right side view close up Left side view Left side view close up

Sorry about posting to many photos and continued post Picked up a couple of suggestive shaped rock forms found in the Kimmeridge clay, which if I can sufficiently remove some of the finest pyrite cubic crystals I’ve ever seen. May contain some bone material underneath. But for the time being I’ve noticed these fossils protruding through some of the pyrite matrix and loose in washed matrix. Continued: I have done some homework searching for coral / echinoid spines from the Kimmeridge clay but have not found any reference to such a fossil so far. As I think they have that tell-tale appearance about them. All suggestions and help would be most welcome. Scale bar is in millimetre sections.

Been a long time since I posted on here (hope everyone good) but found an item at Kimmeridge bay which I need help identifying please. Location: Kimmeridge Bay Rock Type: Kimmeridge Clay with Iron Pyrite Size - No more than 9cm across Any ideas? Looked through the etches collection and could not find anything close. Am I looking at something modern, that has pyritised itself onto the clay? I have done some annotation on one of the images - would genuinely appreciate any thoughts / views being rubbished for the sake of my learning. (please) Many Thanks Steve

Hello, I had my first real encounter with some good looking amonites at Chapman's Pool in Dorset, UK today. However, I also came across this interesting, reptile looking fossil found in the lower clay cliff face at Chapman's Pool. This area forms part of Dorset's Jurassic coastline. I would like to think it's something resembling an Ichthyosaur but I'm very unsure. I'm sorry there's no indication of scale but I can tell you it was no longer than 2 ft from 'nose' to the end of the tail. Thank you! #1 #2 #3 #4