Fossil Code: Category One

Coccolepis sp. Ref No.141

Coccolepis is a very rare type of fish and this specimen is fantastically preserved and complete. It was found in 1994 by Chris Moore. This fossil fish is currently on display at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Scale = 10mm.

Ichthyosaur – unknown species. Ref No. 99

This partial ichthyosaur is thought to be a new species. It was found in 2006 by Chris Moore, a local fossil collector who is pictured with the specimen. Experts can tell from its long slender jaws and details in the skull that this ichthyosaur maybe new to science.

Dragonfly  Ref No.93

This amazing fossil dragonfly has been preserved with its body, head and wings still attached to each other. It is incredible that this dragonfly has been fossilised when you think about how thin and fragile they are. This fossil was found by Chris Moore who is a professional fossil collector.

Palaeospinax  Ref No.165

This very rare fossil shark was saved from the sea by an amateur collector. Most of the shark’s skeleton was formed from soft cartilage, so it is very rare to find it preserved. This specimen also has portions of skin preserved. We can tell that this specimen must have been exposed on the beach for several months before it was collected because of the different types of algae that have grown on the fossil. This fossil shows why it is so important that fossils are collected from the beaches before they are destroyed by the sea. This specimen is will be donated to the Natural History Museum in London in the future.

Greensand leaf  Ref No.133

Fossilised plant remains are common in the Lower Jurassic rocks of Charmouth but this fossilised leaf is from the Upper Greensand rocks and is Cretaceous in age. This specimen is available for donation to a museum or researcher. Scale bar = 10mm.

Pseudoglyphea grandis  Ref No.196

The remains of partial lobsters and crustaceans are usually classed as category 2 specimens, but this lobster is very special. It was identified as Pseudoglyphea grandis by the Natural History Museum and is the only British member of the species with a right chela (claw) preserved. It was found by Richard Edmonds from the Jurassic Coast team in October 2009 and prepared by Alex Moore from The Forge Fossils, here in Charmouth. It has been donated to the Natural History Museum in London.

Scelidosaurus harrisonii   Ref No.35

This specimen of Scelidosaurus is the most complete and one of the best preserved dinosaurs in Britain. It was an armoured plant eating dinosaur which was washed out to sea around 195 million years ago. The first piece of this Scelidosaur was found by the local collector David Sole after a landslide in December 2000. Around 90% of this dinosaur has been recovered so far through the collecting efforts of David, other local collectors and the public. This articulated dinosaur is so well preserved that parts of the soft tissue and armoured plates of the creature are in the same position as when it died. This dinosaur and the story of how it was collected is the most spectacular find in recent years. This is a photograph of the dinosaur after the eight months of preparation work. Copyright of Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives.