4.2" Ichthyosaurus Fossil Bone Section Dorset England Jurassic Marine Reptile COA

Location: Dorset, England (Dorset Coast)

Weight: 12.4 Ounces

Dimensions: 4.2 Inches Long, 3.2 Inches Wide, 1.8 Inches Thick.

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Upper Jurassic Age, 145 Million Years old.

Ichthyosaurs were highly adapted marine reptiles that lived around 145 million years ago, primarily during the Early Jurassic period. Their name comes from Greek and means “fish lizard,” a reference to their streamlined, fish-like bodies. Early discoveries of these animals were made in England in the early nineteenth century, most notably through the work of fossil collector Mary Anning. The scientific term ichthyosaur was formally introduced in 1818 by Charles König.

Throughout the nineteenth century, the majority of ichthyosaur fossils were placed within the genus Ichthyosaurus, which by the year 1900 contained more than fifty named species. These reptiles were clearly built for speed, using powerful tail movements for propulsion, while their fins and short, paddle-like fingers helped with steering and balance in open water.

Although they lived entirely in the ocean, ichthyosaurs were air-breathing predators, belonging to the reptilian group Ichthyosauria. A typical Ichthyosaurus reached about 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length and weighed roughly 200 pounds, making it comparable in size and weight to an adult human. Its jaws were filled with numerous small, razor-sharp teeth, well-suited for catching fish, which formed the bulk of its diet, along with squid-like animals that were abundant in Jurassic seas.

Ichthyosaurs represent one of the most successful reptilian adaptations to marine life, combining speed, agility, and specialized feeding strategies to dominate ancient oceans.