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Hi all, Bought this tooth online a while back. It was sold to me as "Ichthyosaurus platyodon" (which I understand to mean Temnodontosaurus platyodon) from Lyme Regis. Likely found by the seller themselves, as I know they occasionally collect fossils there. However, for the following reasons, I'm not sure about this attribution: Overall, the tooth doesn't look like your typical ichthyosaur tooth to me: It has more of an oval rather than round cross-section It's labolingually flattened Messial and distal carinae run the full length of the crown and divide the tooth into labial and lingual parts While fine striations can be seen on one side of the tooth (presumably the lingual side), the other side (which would be the labial) seems entirely smooth - though some traces of rare striations can be seen on the photographs The striations are much more similar to those of crocodile or pliosaur teeth than to the plicidentine condition so typical of ichthyosaurs The horizontal banding on the tooth surface is unfamiliar to me with respect to most marine reptile teeth I have seen, but occurs much more frequently on crocodile teeth of various species I also bought another tooth with the same attribution from the seller, more or less around the same time. This one has no striations whatsoever, has a more rounded base, is less flattened and has a more rounded tip. It also has carinae. I therefore reclassified it as a probable Goniopholis sp. crocodile tooth. Now I know that not having the root makes it more difficult to identify this particular specimen, but I was hoping someone on this forum might be able to help me, as currently it goes without label. I've considered crocodile, plesiosaur and even pliosaur, but all of these have some reservations that prevent final classification. For one, none of these groups have teeth that are typically flattened like this, nor do plesiosaurs (sensu lato, thus including pliosaurs) have carinae. Crocodiles, then again, would either have or not have striations all around the tooth. And what to make of the banding: is this just preservational, or does it reflect the internal structure of the tooth - i.e. outcome of the tooth's ontological growth? Tooth measures 18 mm and is missing the tip. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, This fossil was unlabeled but I'm guessing they're something along the lines of an Icthyosaur communis jaw from Lyme Regis UK? Are they genuine or perhaps a replica?

Roughly two years ago, while investigating the identity of a marine reptile tooth said to have come from Lyme Regis, I got hinted about a spectacular new marine crocodile, much older than any other member of the thalattosuchian clade. This new species has finally been described: Turnersuchus hingleyae! Set outside the traditional subgroupings of teleosauroidea and metriorhynchoidea, this newly described species has major implications for the evolutionary relationships between thalattosuchians and other crocodylomorphs. Wilberg, Godoy, Griffiths, Turner & Benson, 2023. A new early diverging thalattosuchian (Crocodylomorpha) from the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, U.K. and implications for the origin and evolution of the group. Art by Júlia d'Oliveira (source)

Mary Anning: Lyme Regis fossil hunter's rare biography published BBC News, January 12, 2023 The open access paper is: Taylor, M.A. and Benton, M.J., 2023. The Life of Mary Anning, Fossil Collector of Lyme Regis: a Contemporary Biographical Memoir by George Roberts. Journal of the Geological Society, pp.jgs2022-053. Yours, Paul H.

Just bought a small ichthyosaur bone block from Lyme Regis. The seller has said that the block is from an Ichthyosaurus communis and was found at Church Cliff Bay. I’ve been looking at some diagrams of ichthyosaur skull cross sections and one of the bones resembles a premaxilla. It’s about 5 cm long. B II in the diagram. Just wondering if this is the case before I get to prepping it so I have some idea of what I’m working with .

Hi, looking for help on a nodule I picked up at lyme over the weekend, trying to identify nodules is new to me so I was pleased to see something inside this one. I'm hoping someone can confirm what it is likely to be, there's no edge to it and it's not visible anywhere round the nodule. I'm hoping an ammonite but the nodule seems too small, it's a close match to the colour of some partials we found close by but the ribs seem wrong. Some sort of claim seems most likely but I don't know whether that's likely from lyme. Any ideas before I attack it? Thanks

My aim for the last year or so has been to find a Nautilus on the jurassic coast in Dorset Uk. On my last visit I did find a few chunks, that feel like I am barking up the right tree! I know the first photo is of just a section, but am I looking at the right sort of thing to hit my Nautilus goal? It is approximately 15inches across. And the second image is a reverse side which has been heavily eroded but the shell is protruding around the entire outer edge of the stone. If so, what would anyone suggest regarding prepping these and even if they are suitable/ worth attempting? I only have basic tools i.e. my dremel with fossil tips from zoic palaeo, and the standard pointy tools for manual picking, etc 20221130_140810.mp4

A priceless fossil destroyed in WWII has resurfaced in an unusual way Ashley Strickland, November 4, 2022 "The original fossil was highly significant in being the very first complete skeleton of any prehistoric reptile fossil ever found at the time,..." The open access paper is: Lomax, D.R. and Massare, J.A., 2022. Rediscovery of two casts of the historically important ‘Proteo-saurus’, the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton. Royal Society Open Science, 9(11), p.220966. Your, Paul H.

Hello everyone, A friend of mine and his family will be headed to the south-central and southwest portion of UK for a vacation next week. He asked me if there were any places to collect fossils. 20 years ago I did some collecting in Charmouth, but I know times and permissions change. ANy recommendations on where he could take his family and what if any restrictions or limitations there may be? thank you

Found in lower Jurrasic, Liassic Clays at Seatown near Lyme Regis, Dorset, England. In Lower Liassic Clays, Jurassic rocks, close to Belemnite beds. Curved shape and heavy for size, made me wonder if it could be a rib fragment from Ichthysaur. Could just be limestone / Pyrite nodule, but I don't have enough expertise to know..Thanks. Greg. Staffs UK.

Hi all, We are newbies to fossil hunting but my 2 year old & I found some interesting finds today at Lyme Regis. Very excited to find some pyrite ammonites! But not sure what these others might be? The ? Tooth is 1 inch long The sphere is 2 inch The ? bone is 4 inch Also the last two photos are of a tripple ammonite, but what would the best method be for etching it out to see all three together? Any advice greatly appreciated. : ) Thank you Hen

Hi guys, I’ve got these 2 belemnites from the sinemurian of Lyme Regis and I was wondering whether it would be possible to put a name on them, thanks 1. 2.

Hi, everyone. Whilst scouring loose stones on Lyme beach this took my interest yesterday (20/04/22) aside from bits of ammonites, etc. I thought it resembled a tooth, so kept it as it seemed a bit too perfect to be random rock. Am I completely wrong and is it worth digging deeper into it? Many thanks for any advice offered.

Hello, I went on a trip to Lyme Regis, U.K. last week and came back with some lovely pyrite ammonites and a small ichthyosaurs vertebrae. However we also found this. I’m not sure it’s a full pyrite piece (6cmx6cm) as there is an impression of an ammonite however there are these pyrite cone shapes. Are these just Echinoids Or have I got really lucky with some shark teeth? (very unlikely I know!). I only came across this last one via the National History Museum fossil app which has a picture of a Hybodus delabechei teeth and it looks very similar from a top down view on to the tooth cusps. There are also a number of black specks which look like fish scales which I have seen in coprolite fossils, but may well not be! Really hoping someone could help with an ID or any ideas… It’s got me baffled. Many thanks in advance. Kind regards N

HI ! I'm planning a trip to the UK and want to collect the Devon / Jurassic coast area. I've collected extensively in the US but am a newby to this area. I any and all information: lodging or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Chuck

Hello all! My name is Rafa and this is the first time writing in the forum. Instead of posting in the introduction section, I figure it was more entertaining to do it by my first field trip report and finds, in this case to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. I am sure nothing new to the members of the group as it is a mega famous place, but I had the most amazing weekend taking my first steps into this amazing world and would like to share! About me, I am a Uruguayan living in Munich, Germany since 6-7 years, and with some family in the UK. I am a total beginner in this from both the paleontology and fossil collecting sides. I have always been interested in Paleontology but what really pushed me out there was a wonderful video of the NZ guy "Malambo Fossils" in which he shows his adventures collecting and preparing (mostly) crabs. That intensified my desire to get deeper into this fascinating world and start to collect and learn. So, during a visit to my family in London last week I decided to take a weekend trip to Lyme Regis. There are plenty of reports and information on this area but here are my thoughts: Lyme Regis and Charmouth are very nice towns, even for non-fossil people but quite expensive! a single bed room was 80 Euros/night even in these months. It was totally worth it though. Staying in the nearby towns inland is cheaper, many well connected with buses (including the "Jurassic Coaster"). Careful with logistics on Sunday as surprisingly the buses run very few routes, and getting a taxi to the nearest train station was even a challenge. Having a car makes everything easier. The closest hostel I could find is in the town of Beer (awesome name) but it was unavailable and the prices I could check are also quite expensive. It is possible to do it from London by train, and the best route I found was a direct train to Axminster and then a bus to Lyme Regis. The direct trains are not very common though. Google maps is very accurate and perfect for planning. Being a total beginner and ignorant in these topics, it was amazing to be able to find lots of fossils to get even more motivated about this activity. The Lyme Regis museum (house of Mary Anning) is perfect, the right size and with so much interesting stuff to experience. The guided tours I would say are also a must, but since I failed to book in advance I could not take one. Many of the fossil shops, which are also amazing, are owned by old time fossil collectors from the town/region, and the once I met are amazing to talk to, have million stories and are very generous to share the knowledge and passion. They also do guided tours. All fossils can be collected as long as you don't abuse, so chiseling the walls or big blocks is not allowed and I heard that also one cannot use trollies or wheelbarrows to take stuff home, so basically you can take whatever you can carry. even in the short length of coast from Pinhay Bay to Charmouth, the layers that are exposed changes therefor "producing" different type of fossils, and knowing this in advance can target you in the desired direction, something I was (and still are) totally ignorant about. the beach right out of Lyme Regis to the east is packed with small "fools gold" amonites that are very easy to find, and a great thing for kids or people that just want to find fossils without chopping rock etc Pinhay Bay, which I loved, was completely deserted even in the weekend. In my case it produced less "free" fossils than Lyme Regis beach towards Charmouth, but exiting ones inside nodules or rocks which meant less fossils in my case (since I have zero experience) but also more rewarding when one starts to learn to read the marks and shapes that reveal that a fossil is inside, or the type of rock etc. I had no luck with Ichthyosaurus vertebrae, but apparently they are quire common finds. I was unlucky or most likely not eye-trained enough. Some pics of Lyme Regis Now on to the finds. I spent two half days, and one full day over a weekend and with excellent weather. Upon arrival at Lyme Regis I went straight to Lyme Regis Beach in direction to Charmouth which I did in roughly 5-6 hours, then took the last bus to Lyme Regis. Did not find much at the beginning of the walk as the tide was already out for a couple of hours when I got there, and the first part of the beach gets "combed" by lots of people, or maybe I am too much of a beginner who knows...One thing that I also find interesting is the Victorian times artifacts that you can find such as coins, silverware and parts of ceramics and glass. As I got closer to the "Black Ven" I either started to get luckier or better trained and found several amonites and belemnites, in some cases cracking a rock open here and there. I also collected some rocks, and what I think might be a coprolite? I also got a bunch of amonites from a fellow hunter. The good thing about being a beginner, even the smallest trace of fossil is a worthy keep! Now the next steps is to continue learning, identify my finds and eventually start testing some prep work on some. Any tips or questions welcomed! (was actually on day 2) Surfing seagulls

Hello! Indulged my hobby a little this weekend (4-7 Mar) and headed to Lyme Regis for some sunny ammonite hunting. Found this while digging on East Beach there… I’m nowhere near experienced enough to determine if it’s even a fossil at all, but it was such an odd shape and I thought I’d ask! About 1 3/8 inch (3.5cm) across and approx 1 inch (2.5cm) thick. Found 5 March 2022 on East Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. See photos below for details. Thank you everyone!

Hi all, A couple of years ago I acquired a lovely pair of plesiosaur propodial bones from Lyme Regis. It was a matched pair of both humerus and femur. Today, when I was looking to make space in my cabinet for a new acquisition I had made, I discovered some odd dust next to the humerus that, on inspection and to my horror turned out to be pyrite bloom! I immediately removed the specimen from the cabinet, checked the other podial and nearby fossils, and used a tooth brush to brush of the most direct traces of pyrite decay. But the question is: what now? How do I ensure the propodial's preservation, and make it safe for display again. Should I store affected piece in an open or closed container? I suspect the latter, together with silica beads to consume any excess moisture might be best right now. But how do I get to the point where I can take it out again? Any suggestions are welcome. From my own thread on this topic I know of the existence of pyrite stopper, which sounds ideal for this situation. But I've also been warned that this is quite a hazardous solution and am therefore afraid of trying this out myself. So, part of the question would be whether someone offers pyrite treatment as a service, of knows of someone who does. Thanks in advance for your help! @Ptychodus04 @DanJeavs @paulgdls @RuMert and others

Hi everyone These two pieces were collected by my boyfriends father and his family about 60 years ago on the Jurassic coast of Charmouth/Lyme Regis. A little while ago he brought them out to show me and said I could keep the ones I liked. I chose these two, but not to keep. My idea was to prep them, reveal the fossils inside and give them to him at Christmas. I used a Dremel with specialised tips and a sewing needle in a pin vice under a microscope. Overall I'm quite happy with how they turned out, not perfect, but I can see my own improvement. The larger single ammonite (Promicroceras sp. I think) had significant pyrite rot on the matrix on the reverse side. I removed it with the Dremel and will coat the ammonite and the reverse side with Paraloid. As you can see, the matrix split beside the ammonite whilst I was Dremelling. It would be great to hear opinions on whether you think the piece looks better with the matrix glued back on, or left alone? I would love to hear any advice and critical feedback. Before: The reverse side After an hour or so on the Dremel: The reverse side, after removing the pyrite rot: All finished after a bit more Dremel work and about 2 hours with a needle (no Paraloid yet though): With the excess matrix: Without the excess matrix: The second piece, before: After an hour or two with a needle: After about 40 mins with the Dremel: All finished after a few more hours with a needle and some Paraloid to glue back the broken pieces and stabilise:

Mary Anning: Planning application lodged for Lyme Regis statue BBC News, November 23, 2021 Lyme Regis Mary Anning statue designs released BBC News, January 5, 2021 Lyme Regis Mary Anning statue 'on track' for May (2022) unveiling BBC News, July 28, 2021 Yours, Paul H.

I’m so new to identifying fossils it hurts, but I love finding & collecting them nonetheless! This one was found on a recent trip to Chippel Bay close to Seven Rock Point in Lyme. I’m not sure what it is though - maybe wood? It’s incredibly delicate and has already flaked quite badly due to transport (as seen in first photo). Black with several gray cracks in it, although there’s white flecks in the cross section. Seems to be barely stuck to some form of shale. Any ideas? Thanks!

Hi. I'm currently on holiday in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England and I have found this vertebrae on the beech. It's maybe 1.5cm in diameter. I believe it to be ichteosaur but I was wondering if anyone could clarify? Also, it appears to be missing a portion, would this likely have occurred pre or post fossilisation?

Hi, Hope everyone is well? We found this in Lyme Regis yesterday and we are struggling to identify it. From the shape it looks like it could be a kind of fish head, and there looks to be a indent of an eye but we are not sure. Any help would be appreciated and it will make a 7 year old future paleontologist very happy! Thanks Austin

I've spent a fair amount of time now combing the beaches around Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset, England, and thought i would put together a topic that presents all of my marine reptile bone finds (so far) in one place. The fossils here are Early Jurassic in age, approx. 195-190 million years old and come predominantly from the Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone formations. I first visited this area in 2013 with the simple goal of finding at least one ichthyosaur vertebra, and now after three subsequent trips in 2014, 2017 and 2019, i've put together a far better assortment of finds than i could have possibly hoped for! I think i have been quite lucky along this coastline, although it has taken many hours to amass this collection. Across all four of my England trips i have spent a total of 18 days looking for bones in the Lyme Regis area, most often on the stretch of beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth but sometimes at Monmouth Beach as well. This coastline also produces a large quantity and diversity of ammonites, belemnites, crinoids, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, and even rare insects. However i've always been most interested in fossil vertebrates, and so the ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs that are found here have been my primary target for collecting. There are also some impressive articulated fish to be found, but as yet i have had no luck in finding any! Ichthyosaur bones are the most common type of vertebrate fossil in the area, particularly their bi-concave vertebrae. Less commonly you can also find pieces of the jaw, sometimes with teeth. If you are extra lucky though you may also find plesiosaur bones, which for whatever reason are much rarer than those of ichthyosaurs. The best way to find any type of marine reptile bone around Lyme Regis is to closely examine the shingle on the beach, and i've spent seemingly countless hours bent over and slowly walking along the shore looking for them. If you have a bad back it's even more difficult! I've learnt that bones can be found pretty much anywhere on the beach: in the slumping clays, at the top of the beach in the 'high and dry' shingle, along the middle of the beach, at the low tide line, and also underwater amongst the rocky pools and ledges. And just when i start to think that the beach has already been heavily searched and there isn't much left to find, there always seems to be another bone that turns up, often lying in plain sight. The truth is that most people who visit here to collect are not experts and will probably walk past a lot of these bones, as the texture is the most important thing that gives them away and learning to recognise it takes a bit of time. For the sorts of articulated skeletons that sometimes make news headlines and are beautifully intact, searching the shingle is not the way to go, but for a short term visitor like me i think it is the best way of maximising the chances of finding any sort of reptile bone in the shortest amount of time (and something i can take back with me on the plane too!). Without further ado, here are the pics (spread across multiple posts due to file size limits). I've also included as-found pictures for some of these finds to provide a sense of what they look like and how they are found when they are on the beach. The collection so far. Starting first with my favourite Lyme Regis fossil, this is a very nice plesiosaur vertebra that is in great condition! A very rare find! I have been very fortunate to find two plesiosaur vertebrae at Lyme Regis so far, although this one is smaller and more beach-worn than the previous example. Continued below.

Hello! Found these ammonites (?) in a rock at Lyme Regis today but not sure how (if possible) I could extract them and see if there's more in the rock? Also I'd be interested to know the minerals they are made of if anyone knows. There's also a few sparkly crystal looking bits in the rock. Thanks! Eloise (: