Major new Jurassic fossil arrives at Lyme Regis Museum (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Major new Jurassic fossil arrives at Lyme Regis Museum
4:55pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Adrianne Maslen
Lyme Regis Museum geologist Paddy Howe preparing the fossil for display
THE fossilised skull of a large Jurassic predator has arrived at Lyme Regis Museum.
Named the Lyme Bay Ichthyosaur, the museum has acquired the fossilised head of this impressive creature, a large dolphin-like reptile that swam the warm seas of prehistoric Dorset.
The skull measures over 1.5 metres long and possessed a formidable armoury of razor sharp teeth.
Mary Anning discovered the first ichthyosaur and plesiosaur in the early 19th century in Lyme Regis.
Museum director David Tucker said: “This species of ichthyosaur, called Temnodontosaurus platydon is the same species as the first great ichthyosaur discovered by Mary Anning 200 years ago.
“Mary Anning’s fossil is in the Natural History Museum, and Lyme Regis has waited two centuries to obtain a similar, large specimen.
“The fossil was discovered within metres of the museum. It’s important that museums along the Jurassic Coast are able to display the amazing fossil treasures that are still being found along the coast.”
The fossil was found by local collector, Mike Harrison and was purchased for the museum with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Prism Grant Fund.
Lyme Regis Museum is built on the site of Mary Anning’s house and was founded in 1902 by the family of Elizabeth Philpot, Mary Anning’s friend and significant fossil hunter in her own right.
