A nice example of a bone block with bones from an ichthyosaur from the world-famous Jurassic Coast beach of Lyme Regis, Dorset UK.
The piece or Jurassic shale matrix measures 150 mm (5.85 inches) across and contains several bones from a juvenile ichthyosaur. There are several bones from the jaw and skull alongside a humerus (arm bone), coracoid (shoulder bone), and paddle digit (finger bone). This is an unusual association of bones and suggests the animal was scattered on the seafloor prior to being fossilised.
The level of preservation in the bones is exquisite - they are perfect down to the tiniest level of detail. They also have a lovely dark colour distinctive of bone from this location. The humerus measures 34 mm and the coracoid measures 44 mm, meaning the animal was a juvenile when it died. The pale part of the matrix is the body chamber of an ammonite, which is unusual to find in these bone fossils.
It is had to find blocks with multiple bones in like this one, and each shows a snapshot of the seafloor in the early Jurassic. The bones are well preserved and have been prepared using air abrasive techniques.
The fossil weighs 610 grams and can be displayed flat or standing on its side as it has a cut-flat base.
These fossils were first found by pioneering Victorian fossils hunters like Mary Anning. Ichthyosaur bones are very popular fossils from this location.
Around 198 million years old (Sinemurian, Early Jurassic), this fossil would make a wonderful addition to any collection.