Tourist finds rare chunk of oldest sea crocodile
Summary
An amateur fossil hunter found a rare fossil of the oldest marine crocodile during a guided walk on a beach in Lyme Regis, England. The fossil is one of only 11 known pieces from this animal, called the Charmouth Crocodile, which lived about 200 million years ago in the early Jurassic period.Key Facts
- The fossil is part of the upper jawbone from Turnersuchus hingleyae, known as the Charmouth Crocodile.
- The crocodile lived mostly in the sea and was about 2 meters long with a long, thin snout for catching fish.
- This marine crocodile is part of a group called thalattosuchians, related to modern crocodiles but not true crocodilians.
- The fossil was found on the Lyme Regis shore in Dorset by Heather Salt, an amateur fossil hunter from Solihull.
- Heather thought the rock was wood with nails before realizing it was a fossil.
- The discovery was made during a guided fossil walk led by Casey Rich from Lyme Regis Museum.
- Dr. Paul Davis, a palaeontologist at Lyme Regis Museum, said the fossil helps scientists learn about early crocodile evolution.
- The fossil is now part of an exhibit at Lyme Regis Museum and contributes to understanding the ancient marine environment.
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