Chapman's Pool (Jurassic Coast) Dorset, Uk - Fossil In Clay Cliff. Ichthyosaur?

[fynn89]

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

[Auspex]

Well, it is a section through something, but I cannot imagine what part of a vertebrate creature would thus yield the zig-zag line we can see...

[squalicorax]

Looks like a section of giant clam or something

[Kosmoceras]

I have seen similar in the UK, shell fragments. But I have not seen it on this scale before.

[cfin1974]

pretty cool what is it

[Missourian]

Could it be a pile of large ammonite fragments?

[Fruitbat]

I agree with Auspex and squalicorax. I can't imagine any portion of a vertebrate's anatomy that would have that 'zig-zag' pattern...and it DOES look very much like the remnants of some sort of bivalved mollusc.

-Joe

[Vordigern]

have seen very similar at a NJ Cretaceous site, they were about 12" cross sections of a bivalve, cant remove them from the marl matrix because they just disintigrate

[Kosmoceras]

have seen very similar at a NJ Cretaceous site, they were about 12" cross sections of a bivalve, cant remove them from the marl matrix because they just disintigrate

Yes, when I tried to get one it, it fell appart on me, so I could only collect a couple of fragments.

[TqB]

I think it's a bunch of Actinostreon (Lopha) shells, they usually stick together.

[Herb]

Doesn't look vertebrate to me either, look to me like an assemblage of large pelecypod fragments.

[Ludwigia]

I think it's a bunch of Actinostreon (Lopha) shells, they usually stick together.

I think Tarquin has solved the mystery. You get similar formations like that in the jurassic coastal layers in Normandy.

[TqB]

Thanks, Roger! - I just put a name to the bivalves though.