Ichthyosaur Collection

[Welsh Wizard]

The ichthyosaur Leptonectes tenuiorostris. It’s articulated but looks like it took a nose dive when it died as the skull is a bit smashed.

 

 

Lilstock, preplanorbis zone, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

A single unprepped ichthyosaur vertebra in white calcite. I’ve posted this as it’s the only sign of ichthyosaurs I can find at this location. After looking for about 40 years.

 

 

Llantwit Major, Sinemurian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

Ichthyosaur angular bone. One of the bones that makes up the lower jaw.

 

 

Lavernock Point, Hettangian, Planorbis Zone, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

The articulating end of a rib from a large ichthyosaur. Contained in a nodule that normally contain ammonites.

 

 

North Yorkshire, Toarcian, Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

Articulated string of ichthyosaur vertebra.

 

 

North Yorkshire, Toarcian, Jurassic 

[Welsh Wizard]

A single ichthyosaur rib. All alone in the garden.

 

 

Penarth Head, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

Scattered ichthyosaur remains. Including a  couple of ribs, some vertebrae (body and tail) and a single neural.

 

 

Lavernock Point, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Coco]

Hi,

 

Great collection !

1 hour ago, Welsh Wizard said:

A nice line of articulated ichthyosaur vertebra.

 

 

This pile of vertebrae deserves more preparation !

 

Coco

[Welsh Wizard]

15 minutes ago, Coco said:

Hi,

 

Great collection !

This pile of vertebrae deserves more preparation !

 

Coco

 

Thanks. I thought I’d finally get around to posting on one thread.

[Welsh Wizard]

A very large coprolite, possibly ichthyosaur or shark.

 

 

Aust, Triassic (Rhaetian), Conglomerate bone bed.

[Welsh Wizard]

Not 100% sure about this one. Possible piece of surangular from giant Triassic ichthyosaur. The groove is possibly what is known as the Meckelian canal. Alternatively it may be part of a humerus or femur from a Triassic plesiosaur. It’s about 2 inch in diameter and 6 inches long

 

 

Aust, Triassic (Rhaetian), Conglomerate bone bed.

[RuMert]

Are there visual differences between ichthyosaur and plesiosaur (and maybe crocodilian) ribs?

[jpc]

36 minutes ago, RuMert said:

Are there visual differences between ichthyosaur and plesiosaur (and maybe crocodilian) ribs?

They are very difficult to tell apart... so I am told by someone who works on both. 

[Welsh Wizard]

44 minutes ago, RuMert said:

Are there visual differences between ichthyosaur and plesiosaur (and maybe crocodilian) ribs?

 

I hadn’t really thought about it but I agree with @jpc that they are quite similar.

 

My general observation is that ichthyosaur ribs are more gracile than plesiosaur ones. The bigger plesiosaur ones tend to be quite robust and have a more pronounced figure of 8 cross section. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

[Welsh Wizard]

This is probably Ichthyosaurus somersetensis. You are looking at the front end of the skeleton with the jaws, teeth, partial skull (with muscle pit and eye socket), humerus, scapula, coracoid, paddle digits and ribs. There is a single vertebra mixed in with the paddle digits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lavernock Point, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic.

 

I was lucky enough to win one of the Vertebrate Fossils of the Month with this one last year.

[Welsh Wizard]

Ichthyosaur skull - possibly Stenopterygius sp. Looking down on the top of the skull you can see the muscle pits. A couple of vertebra are attached to the back of the skull.

 

 

Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire. Toarcian, Jurassic.

[FossilDAWG]

Amazing collection!!! 

Don

[Welsh Wizard]

It’s quite difficult to photograph and see these bones. It’s a jumble of ichthyosaur skull bones including a quadrate and axis vertebra.

 

 

Penarth Head near Cardiff. Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

A small ichthyosaur coracoid. As found. There is another coracoid and small humerus underneath it but it’s quite tough to prepare so I’ve left it as it is. Possibly ichthyosaurus communis or somersetensis.

 

 

St Mary’s Well Bay. Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

A selection of partial ichthyosaur ribs.

 

 

Hettangian

[Welsh Wizard]

A single pink rooted ichthyosaur tooth sat on a bed of shell debris.

 

 

St Mary’s Well Bay. Hettangian. Lower Jurassic 

[Welsh Wizard]

A nice set of articulated ichthyosaur tail vertebrae. Really nice preservation.

 

 

Lavernock Point, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic.

[Welsh Wizard]

Ichthyosaur coracoid in shelly limestone

 

 

Penarth, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[Welsh Wizard]

Another coracoid that was found in shale.

 

 

St Mary’s Well Bay, Hettangian, Lower Jurassic

[fossilsonwheels]

Incredible collection. Thank you for posting these. There is a large Shastasaurus being prepped at CSU Chico. I got to check out the lab as it was being prepped. Very impressive animals.