#fossilised bone Triassic

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Reptile Bone in Block Upper Triassic Westbury Formation Aust Cliff Bristol UK Authentic Vertebrate Specimen

This listing features an authentic fossil reptile bone, preserved in a block of matrix from the famous vertebrate-rich bed at Aust Cliff, near Bristol, United Kingdom. This fossil comes from the Westbury Formation, within the Penarth Group, and dates to the Upper Triassic Period (Rhaetian Stage, ~208–201 million years ago).

The specimen was discovered by UKGE team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, and has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison. The exact fossil shown in the photo is the one you will receive and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Context:

The Westbury Formation at Aust Cliff represents a shallow marine to lagoonal depositional environment, laid down during a major marine transgression in the Late Triassic. This site is internationally known for its well-preserved vertebrate remains, including fish, marine reptiles, and abundant coprolites.

Reptile Bone Details:

While individual identification of isolated bone fragments can be challenging, the bone in this specimen likely belongs to a marine reptile such as a Placodont, Plesiosaur, or Ichthyosaur—all known from similar Triassic environments.

Morphological Features:

Dense, robust fossilised bone fragment

Preserved in laminated dark grey micaceous mudstone

May exhibit surface texture, curvature, or internal structure

Potential origin includes rib, limb, or jaw bone

This is a valuable and visually striking specimen from one of Britain’s most iconic Triassic fossil beds.

Specimen Information:

Fossil Type: Reptile Bone in Matrix Block

Geological Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Stage: Rhaetian Stage, Upper Triassic

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to lagoonal

Discovered By: Alister & Alison (UKGE Team)

Date of Discovery: 07 April 2025

Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to the photograph for exact sizing and details.

This fossil is an exceptional addition for collectors of marine reptile material, Triassic vertebrates, or British palaeontology.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

[psychopurr]

— DINOSAUR ID PACK 🦖

NAMES : amber, anky, ankylo, archie, archo, bailey, blue, bones, bronto, buck(y), cambria, carno, cera, charlie, claw, cory, daemon, darwin, dee, delta, devon, dina, dino, dinora, doe, draco(rex), echo, ediacara, eli, fern, finn, fleet, fossil, grover, harpy, jade, jane, kylo, leo, lichen, lichida, luca, marella, max, mono, mosa, neo, nuna, nyx, phyla, pteraspi, pyro, raptor, red, rex, rexie, reximus, rexley, rexy, rhino, roardin, roarke, rocky, ronaldino, rory, roy, sage, saur, scale, scotty, scout, shale, spike, spine, spino, stega, strata, sue, talon, theodore, thumper, tina, titan, titania, titus, tooth, trexler, tristan, trix, trylo, ty, venator, verdi, zephyr, ziggy

PRONOUNS : bite/bite, bone/bone, cera/cera, cera/ceratop, cera/top, claw/claw, cre/creta(ceous), dig/dig, dino/dino, dino/dinosaur, dino/saur, dinosaur/dinosaur, don/don, evo/evolve, flora/fauna, foss/fossier,fossi/fossi, fossil/fossil, jur/jurassic, mim/mim, mimu/mimus, mimus/mimus, paleo/paleo, paleon/paleon, phy/phylum, pretyx/pteryx, rapt/rapt, rapt/raptor, rawr/rawr, rex/rex, roar/roar, saur/saur, saur/saurus, saurus/saurus, scale/scale, spino/spino, suchus/suchus, teeth/teeth, tetra/tetrapod, tri/triassic, tri/trilobite, tyra/tyra, tyrant/tyrant, tyras/tyrant, ven/ven, vena/vena, venator/venator, vol/cano, zo/zoa, ☄️, 🌠, 🌋, ��, 🦖

TITLES : the fossilised, the fossilised one, prn the fossilised, prn who is fossilised, prn who is buried in stone, prn who walked with/among dinosaurs, prn who walked among giants, the giant one, the titan, the last titan, prn who survived the meteor, prn who saw the meteor fall, the one who roared, the one who roared last, the lizard king, the cold-blooded king, the great hunter, the swamp stalker, the shadow in the ferns, prn who stalked the ferns, the one who came before

[pt: dinosaur id pack,

names,

pronouns,

titles, end pt]

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Rare fossil of bone-crushing crocodile cousin found in Brazil

The prehistoric reptile likely played a surprising but vital role in its Triassic ecosystem.

Rodrigo Müller was working a block of rock and dirt at the base of Agudo Hill, an hour from Porto Alegre, when he first saw an unusual set of osteoderms, bony deposits that form plates on the skin of a reptile or amphibian.

“It was a surprise, because we had never seen anything like this in Brazil before,” Müller, a palaeontologist at the Federal University of Santa Maria, says of what was otherwise an ordinary visit to the Janner dig site, once home to some of the earliest dinosaurs to roam Earth.

As he continued his delicate work, he brushed dirt from an intact cranium and several other fossilised bones. Together, the collection formed a well-preserved and almost complete skeleton of a rare Ornithosuchidae reptile, a family considered cousins to today’s crocodiles and alligators that had been previously recorded only in Argentina and Scotland.

Dated to 230 million years ago, Dynamosuchus collisensis—newly named for its powerful bite and the location of the find—was described January 31 in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica by a team that includes Müller’s colleagues at Argentina’s Museo de La Plata and Virginia Tech in the United States. Only three other species of Ornithosuchid have been discovered in the world, the last of which was found in Argentina and described 50 years ago.

While its bite could crush bones and its blade-like teeth tore through meat, Müller and company believe Dynamosuchus collisensis was a slow scavenger, or necrophagous, similar to the vultures and hyenas of today. It fed mostly off animal carcasses and easy-to-catch prey, meaning it filled a crucial part of the food chain that palaeontologists hadn’t known existed in this region of Brazil until now.

“It helps us understand better how that ecosystem worked,” Müller says.

Continue reading.

[sciencespies]

We finally know how this ancient reptile lived with such an absurdly long neck

https://sciencespies.com/nature/we-finally-know-how-this-ancient-reptile-lived-with-such-an-absurdly-long-neck/

We finally know how this ancient reptile lived with such an absurdly long neck

Make a crocodile out of taffy. Take its head and tug on it until its neck extends a good few metres from its body. If you squint, this could be what one odd-looking Triassic reptile called Tanystropheus looked like. More or less.

This animal’s assortment of ludicrously long fossilised neck bones has confused the heck out of palaeontologists for nearly 170 years. By using CT scans to unpack the crushed skulls of the reptiles’ remains, researchers have now resolved some nagging questions surrounding this strange animal.

Specimens of Tanystropheus can reach more than five metres (16 ft) in length, with its tail making up roughly a third of its length, and its body maybe a quarter. The rest is all neck.

Tanystropheus sizes compared to a human. (Spiekman, et al., Current Biology, 2020)

“Tanystropheus looked like a stubby crocodile with a very, very long neck,” says palaeontologist Olivier Rieppel from Chicago’s Field Museum.

Why this reptile evolved such extended dimensions is a complete mystery. The fact nobody could figure out whether it preferred to be submerged in water or to lumber about on land only made it harder to settle on any conclusions.

Part of its oddness is the shape of the neck bones. Unlike those in a snake or lizard, the cervical vertebrae in Tanystropheus fossils are stretched out like a giraffe’s. In fact, when its remains were first uncovered in 1852, the scattered bones were assumed to be the elongated wing bones of a flying pterosaur.

Not all of the individuals we’ve unearthed are crocodile-sized, either. A number are far smaller, prompting palaeontologists to question whether some of the specimens in their archives belong to juveniles, or represent a completely different species.

This is a common problem in palaeontology – the diminutive fossil of a dwarf species can be almost identical to the immature bones of a youngster. Separating them requires looking for clues on whether the skeleton has yet to reach full size or still has some growing to do.

Thankfully, such clues can be found deep inside the fossils. Just as the rings inside a tree’s trunk present a record of their age, bones can do the same thing.

To find these, Rieppel and his colleagues used X-rays on an assortment of Tanystropheus skeletons, turning the scans into 3D models through high resolution computerised tomography (CT) technology.

“The power of CT scanning allows us to see details that are otherwise impossible to observe in fossils,” says lead author Stephan Spiekman, an expert in Triassic reptile evolution at the University of Zurich.

The growth rings revealed the smaller Tanystropheus bodies did indeed belong to adults, making it fairly clear that what the researchers had on their hands were two separate species.

To distinguish them, the team named the bigger one T. hydroides, after the hydra in Greek mythology. Its smaller cousin kept the original species name of T. longobardicus.

Transforming the scans into digital models also provided the researchers with a way to rearrange the squashed bones into a clearer configuration, making it far easier to get a good look at all of the creature’s anatomy.

“From a strongly crushed skull we have been able to reconstruct an almost complete 3D skull, revealing crucial morphological details,” says Spiekman.

With all of its bone fragments in their proper place, it looks like Tanystropheus would be well at home in the water after all.

The reptile’s skull has its nostrils perched on top, much like a crocodile’s snout – just the thing for an ambush predator to keep a lung full of air while waiting for a meal to pass by.

(Spiekman et al., Current Biology, 2020)

What had been a jumbled pile of pointy teeth can also be seen forming a rather efficient trap for snatching a cephalopod, at least for the king-sized species.

“The small species likely fed on small shelled animals, like shrimp, in contrast to the fish and squid the large species ate,” says Spiekman.

“This is really remarkable, because we expected the bizarre neck of Tanystropheus to be specialised for a single task, like the neck of a giraffe. But actually, it allowed for several lifestyles. This completely changes the way we look at this animal.”

An illustration showing T. hydroides hunting. (Emma Finley-Jacob)

The fact that the two, very similar species had such different ways of using their long bodies made it much easier for them to exist in the same habitats, sharing their environment without competing for the same food sources.

We can now almost imagine the animal’s squat, croc-like body lying against the floor of a shallow coastline some 242 million years ago, its head rising high up to the surface so its nostrils can siphon down air, its bristling mouth slightly agape in anticipation of a stray squid to stumble by.

As familiar as the scene feels, Tanystropheus is still one weird critter.

This research was published in Current Biology.

#Nature

[earthstory]

New mammal fossils reveal our hairy roots.

We usually associate mammals with the era since the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, when they spread into the vacant ecological niches left behind by the demise of the dinosaurs. Truth is, they appeared a long time before they conquered the world, as far back as the late Triassic 212 million years ago when our distant ancestors the Mammaliaforms walked the world. They co-existed with the dinosaurs throughout most of their reign, the first saurians being about 30 million years older. Two new Jurassic fossils from China have sparked a debate on what makes a true mammal, and one had the oldest fossilised fur. They were published in this week's Nature. Both fossils are the most complete examples found of an order called Haramiyidae, until now only known from their teeth. It always seems like serendipity when two examples of something long sought after appear at the same time from different localities. Finding their exact location on the tree of life is proving problematic, and a debate has started on exactly how close to true mammals they are.

The first, illustrated in the picture, was squirrel sized, and had fur and a keratinous spur on his hind leg. The latter is remarkably similar to that of the male duck billed platypus, an egg laying primitive mammal found in Australia. The platypus's spur is poisonous, and the fossil example may well have been similar. It was found in a 165 million year old layer of volcanic ash that settled in a freshwater lake in Inner Mongolia.

Megaconus mammaliaformis's skeleton shows both reptilian and mammalian features, that lie on the hazy borderline between proto and true mammals, but proves that fur was already in existence back in the mid Jurassic. Its teeth reveal an omnivorous diet, showing it already had the mammalian opportunistic trait of trying to squeeze a living out of everything that can be nibbled. It lived by the lake shore and probably foraged at night, since he shared his habitat with Pterosaurs.

The second find, named Arboroharamiya, comes from northeastern China, and died about 160 million years ago. It had long digits, and possibly a prehensile tail, suggesting that it lived in trees. Its jaw consists of one bone, which is a mammalian trait, as reptiles have three further jaw bones that metamorphosed into our ear bones. The team controversially claim that it is a true mammal, and suggest that they were in existence as long ago as 200 million years.

One specimen is not enough to make such a definite statement, and the search is on for further finds to help us draw the line between 'proto' and 'true' mammals. More fossils are needed from this distant era before further clarity can be attained.

Loz Image credit: University of Chicago, Nature. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/aug/07/jurassic-squirrel-mammals-evolution-earth http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/discovery-of-165-million-year-old-fossil-sheds-light-on-evolution-of-earliest-mammals/ http://www.nature.com/news/fossils-throw-mammalian-family-tree-into-disarray-1.13522 http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/otherprehistoriclife/a/earlymammals.htm Pay wall access, original paper: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v500/n7461/full/nature12429.html

[shakeel786blog]

The Mother Of All Lizards, 240 Million Years Old, Found In Italian Alps

Megachirella, discovered some 20 years ago buried in compacted sand and clay layers in the Dolomites mountain range in northeast Italy, was initially mis-classified as a close lizard relative.

File image of Water Monitor Lizard. (Image: Getty Images)

Scientists said on Wednesday that they had tracked down the oldest known lizard, a tiny creature that lived about 240 million years ago when Earth had a single continent and dinosaurs were brand new. Scans of the fossilised skeleton of Megachirella revealed the chameleon-sized reptile was an ancestor of today’s lizards and snakes, which belong to a group called squamates, an international team wrote in the science journal Nature.

This finding dragged the group back in time by 75 million years, and means that “lizards inhabited the planet since at least 240 million years ago,” study co-author Tiago Simoes of the University of Alberta in Canada told AFP. That, in turn, suggested that squamates had already split from other ancient reptiles before the Permian/Triassic mass extinction some 252 million years ago, and survived it.

Up to 95 percent of marine- and 75 percent of terrestrial life on Earth was lost. Megachirella, discovered some 20 years ago buried in compacted sand and clay layers in the Dolomites mountain range in northeast Italy, was initially mis-classified as a close lizard relative. But Simoes had questions. “When I first saw the fossil I realised it had important features that could link it to the early evolution of lizards,” he said. So he hooked up with colleagues to perform a more detailed analysis of the tiny skeleton, which included CT scanning.

The scans revealed previously unseen physical features, including the underside of the fossil, embedded in rock. The team found a tiny bone in Megachirella’s lower jaw that is unique to the squamate family. “I spent nearly 400 days visiting over 50 museums and university collections across 17 countries to collect data on fossil and living species of reptiles to understand the early evolution of reptiles and lizards,” Simoes explained, adding, “I used this dataset… to conduct the phylogenetic analysis presented in this study.”

Phylogenetics is the study of how different species relate to one another in the tree of life.

Simoes’ colleague and study co-author Michael Caldwell likened the Megachirella fossil to “a virtual Rosetta Stone in terms of the information it gives us on the evolution of snakes and lizards.” The stone, dug up in Egypt, allowed scientists to decipher hieroglyphics. There are 10,000 modern squamate species alive today, Caldwell added, “yet we’ve really had no real understanding of where they came from in terms of their evolutionary history”.

Until now.

For Simoes, the study is about more than the history of lizards, noting, “We currently suffer a crisis in the world of lack of confidence in scientific evidence and facts. Denial of scientific information has been increasing and replaced by alternative facts not backed up by science. This study, along with others that try to understand fundamental aspects of evolution… will hopefully draw back people’s curiosity and attention to the natural world and how it has been changing for hundreds of millions of years.”

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[uk-fossils]

Fossil Small Reptile Vertebra in Block Upper Triassic Westbury Formation Aust Cliff Bristol UK Authentic Specimen

This listing features a finely preserved small reptile vertebra fossil, embedded in matrix from the iconic fish, reptile, and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, near Bristol, United Kingdom. This fossil was discovered in the Westbury Formation of the Penarth Group, dating to the Upper Triassic Period (Rhaetian Stage, ~208–201 million years ago).

Your specimen was discovered by our own team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, and has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison. It is the actual piece shown in the photograph and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological and Palaeontological Context:

The Westbury Formation represents a shallow marine to lagoonal depositional setting formed during a major transgressive phase at the close of the Triassic. Aust Cliff is one of the UK’s most productive fossil localities for vertebrate remains from this period, preserving a rich assemblage of marine reptiles, bony fish, and coprolites.

Reptile Vertebra Details:

This small vertebra likely belonged to a juvenile or small-bodied marine reptile, potentially a Placodont, early Plesiosaur, or a related group of Triassic marine reptiles.

Morphological Features:

Small, rounded to spool-shaped centrum

Surface detail may include articular facets, notochordal canal traces, or subtle ridging

Preserved in dark grey to black micaceous mudstone matrix

Occasionally found in association with fish scales or coprolitic fragments

Specimen Information:

Fossil Type: Small Reptile Vertebra in Matrix Block

Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Stage: Rhaetian Stage, Upper Triassic

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine / lagoonal

Discovered By: Alister & Alison (UKGE Team)

Date of Discovery: 07 April 2025

This is a unique and scientifically valuable specimen from one of Britain’s most famous fossil beds, ideal for collectors, educators, or enthusiasts of marine reptiles and Triassic vertebrates.

Scale cube = 1cm. Please see the photo for full sizing and preservation detail.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

[dinosaurs-en-blog]

Sauropoda

Sauropoda (/ˌsɔːrˈɒpədə/ or /ˌsɔːrəˈpoʊdə/), or the sauropods (/ˈsɔːrəˌpɒdz/; sauro- + -pod, "lizard-footed"), are an infraorder of saurischian ("lizard-hipped") dinosaurs. They had very long necks, long tails, small heads (relative to the rest of their body), and four thick, pillar-like legs. They are notable for the enormous sizes attained by some species, and the group includes the largest animals to have ever lived on land. Well-known genera include Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus. Sauropods first appeared in the late Triassic Period, where they somewhat resembled the closely related (and possibly ancestral) group "Prosauropoda". By the Late Jurassic (150 million years ago), sauropods had become widespread (especially the diplodocids and brachiosaurids). By the Late Cretaceous, those groups had mainly been replaced by the titanosaurs, which had a near-global distribution. However, as with all other non-avian dinosaurs alive at the time, the titanosaurs died out in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. Fossilised remains of sauropods have been found on every continent, including Antarctica. The name Sauropoda was coined by O.C. Marsh in 1878, and is derived from Greek, meaning "lizard foot". Sauropods are one of the most recognizable groups of dinosaurs, and have become a fixture in popular culture due to their large sizes. Complete sauropod fossil finds are rare. Many species, especially the largest, are known only from isolated and disarticulated bones. Many near-complete specimens lack heads, tail tips and limbs. More details Android, Windows

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Fish Bone in Block Upper Triassic Westbury Formation Aust Cliff Bristol UK Authentic Vertebrate Specimen

This listing features a well-preserved fossil fish bone embedded in a block from the famous vertebrate and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, near Bristol, UK. This specimen comes from the Westbury Formation, part of the Penarth Group, and dates to the Upper Triassic Period (Rhaetian Stage, ~208–201 million years ago).

Your specimen was discovered by our own team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, and has been cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison. It is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, and the photo shows the exact piece you will receive.

Geological Context:

The Westbury Formation represents a shallow marine to lagoonal depositional setting, where cycles of transgression led to rich organic deposition. The dark, fine-grained mudstones of the Aust Cliff area are globally recognised for yielding a diverse assemblage of Late Triassic marine vertebrates—including fish, marine reptiles, and coprolites.

The fish bone likely derives from an actinopterygian (ray-finned fish), a group that includes species such as Severnichthys and Saurichthys—both common in this bed.

Morphology and Preservation:

Elongate, cylindrical or plate-like fossil bone fragment

Embedded in micaceous black or grey laminated mudstone

Bone may represent part of a rib, fin ray, or jaw fragment

Associated with fish scale or coprolitic debris in some cases

This bone fragment offers valuable insight into Late Triassic marine life and is an excellent educational or display piece.

Specimen Information:

Fossil Type: Fish Bone in Matrix Block

Geological Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Stage: Rhaetian (Upper Triassic)

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to lagoonal

Discovered By: Alister & Alison (UKGE Team)

Date of Discovery: 07 April 2025

Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to the image for full sizing and condition.

This is a unique opportunity to own a genuine piece of the UK’s rich fossil heritage, from one of its most iconic Triassic localities.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

[uk-fossils]

RARE Reptile Coprolite with Fish Bones | Upper Triassic Fossil | Aust Cliff Bristol UK | Westbury Formation | Certified Specimen

This listing features a RARE small reptile coprolite fossil with visible fish bone inclusions, discovered from the renowned Aust Cliff locality in Bristol, UK. This exceptional trace fossil comes from the Westbury Formation, part of the Penarth Group, and dates to the Upper Triassic Period, approximately 208–201 million years ago.

Discovered by our team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, this coprolite has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison, ensuring both scientific integrity and display quality.

Geological Context:

Fossil Type: Coprolite (fossilised faeces)

Likely Producer: Small Triassic reptile, possibly a fish-eating sphenodontian or early crocodylomorph

Inclusions: Clearly visible fish bones and scales preserved in matrix

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Period: Upper Triassic

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal lagoonal setting with periodic terrestrial input – conducive to fossil preservation of organic-rich material like excrement

Notable Features & Scientific Importance:

This coprolite exhibits remarkable preservation, including bone fragments and fish scale inclusions, providing insight into the diet and ecosystem interactions of Triassic reptiles.

Trace fossils such as this are invaluable for reconstructing palaeoecological dynamics and food webs.

The Aust Cliff site is internationally recognised for its Triassic-Jurassic boundary exposures, yielding important fossils including marine reptiles, invertebrates, and trace fossils.

Palaeontological Classification (trace fossils): While coprolites are classified as ichnofossils (trace fossils) rather than body fossils, their morphological analysis and inclusions allow identification of likely producers and depositional context.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Scale cube = 1cm: Please refer to the photo for exact sizing. The fossil shown is the actual specimen you will receive—authentic, ethically sourced, and scientifically prepared.

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Reptile Coprolite – Upper Triassic – Aust Cliff, Westbury Formation, Bristol UK

Fossil Reptile Coprolite in Matrix – Upper Triassic – Aust Cliff, Westbury Formation, Bristol, UK

This authentic specimen is a fossilised reptile coprolite, preserved in situ within a matrix from the iconic fish, reptile and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, Bristol. The bed belongs to the Westbury Formation, part of the Penarth Group, and dates back to the Upper Triassic period, approximately 205–210 million years ago.

Scientific and Geological Context:

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Period: Upper Triassic

Depositional Environment: Anoxic, low-energy estuarine/coastal lagoon – ideal for fossil preservation

Lithology: Laminated dark mudstones with concentrated fossil bone, tooth, and coprolite deposits

Palaeoecology: A rich snapshot of Upper Triassic coastal life, including reptiles, fishes, and their trace fossils

Fossil Significance & Morphology:

Coprolites are trace fossils that provide invaluable information about the diets and digestive processes of ancient organisms. This specimen is likely from a carnivorous reptile, evidenced by embedded bone or scale fragments.

Morphology Features:

Elongated, rounded coprolite with clear concentric growth or digestive textures

Possible inclusions of crushed bone or fish remains visible

Notable Value: Such coprolites are used in scientific studies to reconstruct Triassic food webs, and specimens from Aust Cliff are among the best-preserved from the UK

Specimen Details:

Discovered by: Our own field team – Alister and Alison – on 07 April 2025

Cleaned, prepped and treated by: Alison

Scale Reference: 1cm cube shown in photo; see image gallery for full size and detail

Authenticity Guaranteed: Comes with our Certificate of Authenticity – all our fossils are 100% genuine

Actual Specimen: What you see is exactly what you’ll receive – no substitutes

Ideal For:

Collectors of trace fossils, educators, palaeontology enthusiasts, and those interested in the dietary history of reptiles in the Late Triassic ecosystems. A fascinating and tangible link to prehistoric life, ideal for display or educational use.

[uk-fossils]

RARE Fossil Coprolite with Reptile/Fish Fragments – Aust Cliff, Bristol – Upper Triassic – UK Authentic Specimen

This listing is for a genuine fossil coprolite (prehistoric faeces) embedded in a fossil-rich block from the famous Fish, Reptile and Coprolite Bed at Aust Cliff, Bristol, part of the renowned Westbury Formation, Penarth Group, dated to the Upper Triassic (~208–201 million years ago).

Your specimen was discovered by our own team members, Alister and Alison, on 07 April 2025, and has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison to preserve its natural features. It includes both the fossilised coprolite and embedded fragments of other vertebrate fossils (likely fish or reptile bone), making it an exciting specimen for collectors and educators alike.

Geological Details:

Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Locality: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Stratigraphy: Upper Triassic

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal marine lagoonal setting, periodically influenced by storm activity and vertebrate activity.

Fossil Type and Features:

Fossil Type: Coprolite (fossilised faeces)

Possible Source Organism: Ceratodus (lungfish), predatory fish, or small marine reptiles.

Morphology Features: Coprolites are typically spiral or cylindrical with visible inclusions of bone or scales from prey items.

Preservation: 3D preservation in a sedimentary matrix; some specimens also contain phosphate-rich inclusions.

Significance:

Educational Value: A unique glimpse into the dietary habits of Triassic vertebrates.

Collectability: High – especially when combined with other fossil inclusions.

Rarity: Blocks from this bed are well-known but finite and increasingly rare due to erosion and collecting pressure.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to the photo for full sizing. The fossil in the image is the exact specimen you will receive – hand-selected for quality and interest.

Add a remarkable piece of prehistoric life to your collection today!

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Reptile Bones & Coprolite – Upper Triassic – Aust Cliff, Westbury Formation, Bristol UK

Fossil Reptile Bones and Coprolite in Matrix – Upper Triassic – Aust Cliff, Westbury Formation, Bristol, UK

This exceptional block contains genuine reptile bone fragments and an accompanying coprolite (fossilised faeces), preserved together in a matrix from the world-famous fish, reptile, and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, Bristol. This geological unit, known as the Westbury Formation, is part of the Penarth Group and dates back to the Upper Triassic Period (around 205–210 million years ago).

Scientific and Geological Context:

Location: Aust Cliff, near Bristol, UK

Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Period: Upper Triassic

Depositional Environment: Coastal lagoon/estuarine system subject to episodic flooding and anoxic conditions, perfect for preservation of organic material

Lithology: Dark laminated mudstones and siltstones with fossil-rich horizons

Palaeoecology: Rich with vertebrate remains including fish, early marine reptiles (e.g. placodonts and ichthyosaurs), and evidence of terrestrial vertebrate activity via coprolites and bone beds

Fossil Features and Significance:

The coprolite is thought to originate from a carnivorous vertebrate and often contains inclusions such as crushed bone fragments, giving insights into the diet of Triassic predators. The reptile bones in this block may represent fragments from marine or marginal marine reptiles that inhabited or were washed into the depositional basin.

Morphology Highlights:

Long, cylindrical coprolite with preserved texture and mineral replacement

Bone fragments exhibit porous internal structure typical of vertebrate remains

Notable Use: Coprolites from this bed are significant for palaeoecological reconstructions and are used to study trophic chains in Late Triassic environments

Specimen Details:

Discovered by: Our own team – Alister and Alison – on 07 April 2025

Cleaned, prepped and treated by: Alison

Scale Reference: Cube in image = 1cm; full size detailed in photographs

Authenticity: Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity – we guarantee all our specimens are 100% genuine

Photographed Specimen: What you see is exactly what you get – carefully chosen, clearly shown

Why This Specimen?

This is an ideal piece for collectors, educators, and anyone with an interest in prehistoric life. With both reptile bone and coprolite in situ from a stratigraphically and scientifically important UK fossil bed, it’s a rare and insightful snapshot of Triassic life.

[uk-fossils]

RARE Fossil Reptile Bones and Coprolite – Aust Cliff UK – Upper Triassic Westbury Formation

RARE Fossil Reptile Bones and Coprolite – Westbury Formation, Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK – Upper Triassic

This is a carefully selected and authentic fossil slab containing both fossilised reptile bones and coprolite (fossilised faeces), recovered from the famous fish, reptile, and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, Bristol. This site is one of the most scientifically significant Upper Triassic fossil localities in the UK.

Formation and Age:

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Geological Unit: Westbury Formation, Penarth Group

Stratigraphy: Upper Triassic (~208–201 million years ago)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to lagoonal – ideal for fossil preservation

Fossil Content and Scientific Context:

The coprolite is likely from Ceratodus, an extinct genus of lungfish, while the reptile bones may belong to small Triassic marine or semi-aquatic reptiles, such as early archosaurs. Fossils from this bed often preserve dietary and environmental data, making them important for scientific and educational purposes.

This block offers a rare opportunity to own multiple fossil types in one piece, showcasing the diverse ecosystem that existed in the Late Triassic coastal regions of Britain.

Features and Morphology:

Reptile bones typically show dark mineralisation with fine surface detail

Coprolite may exhibit spiral or segmented morphology consistent with lungfish

Contrasting matrix and fossil material provide a striking visual display

Authenticity and Preparation:

Discovered by our own field team (Alister and Alison) on 07 April 2025

Cleaned, prepped and treated by Alison to ensure stability and clarity

All fossils are 100% genuine and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to photos for full sizing

The specimen shown in the photograph is the exact item you will receive

Why Buy From Us:

We specialise in high-quality, scientifically interesting fossil specimens that are responsibly sourced and professionally prepared. Perfect for collectors, educators, or anyone looking to own a genuine piece of natural history.

[uk-fossils]

RARE Fossil Reptile Bone - Aust Cliff UK - Westbury Formation - Upper Triassic - Genuine Specimen with COA

RARE Fossil Reptile Bone – Westbury Formation, Aust Cliff, Upper Triassic, UK

This listing is for a genuine fossilised reptile bone preserved within a natural matrix from the famous fish, reptile, and coprolite bed of Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK. This rare and historically significant site is part of the Westbury Formation within the Penarth Group, dating to the Upper Triassic period (approx. 208–201 million years ago).

Your specimen was carefully discovered by our own team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, and has been professionally cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison to ensure both preservation and presentation quality.

The Westbury Formation at Aust Cliff represents a transitional coastal lagoonal to marginal marine depositional environment. Fossils found here are often associated with the Rhaetian Stage of the Upper Triassic, making them invaluable for understanding the pre-Jurassic marine and nearshore fauna of the UK.

The bone is likely to be from a marine or semi-aquatic reptile, with known species from this bed including Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs, and primitive Crocodyliforms. While exact taxonomic assignment is not possible without further scientific analysis, the morphology is consistent with vertebrate skeletal remains from these groups.

Geological Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Stage: Upper Triassic (Rhaetian)

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, England, UK

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal lagoonal

Notable Features: Preserved in original matrix with other fossil material potentially visible

Specimen Type: Reptile bone fossil in matrix

Each fossil we offer is 100% genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The fossil in the photograph is the exact one you will receive.

Please refer to the photo for full sizing details — the included scale cube is 1cm for reference.

Perfect for collectors, educational use, or display, this is a striking and authentic piece of British palaeontological history.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Reptile Bone in Block Upper Triassic Westbury Formation Aust Cliff Bristol UK Genuine Vertebrate Specimen

This listing features a fossil reptile bone embedded in a matrix block from the famous fish, reptile, and coprolite bed at Aust Cliff, located near Bristol, UK. This vertebrate specimen comes from the Westbury Formation, part of the Penarth Group, and is dated to the Upper Triassic Period (Rhaetian Stage, approximately 208–201 million years ago).

This specific fossil was discovered by our team members Alister and Alison on 07 April 2025, and has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the photo displays the exact piece you will receive.

Geological and Palaeontological Context:

The Westbury Formation was deposited during a time of significant marine transgression and features a shallow marine to lagoonal depositional environment. Aust Cliff is one of the most celebrated Late Triassic fossil localities in the UK, known for yielding abundant and diverse marine vertebrate remains, including fish, marine reptiles, and coprolites.

Reptile bones found in this bed may belong to Placodonts, early Plesiosaurs, or other Triassic marine reptiles. Complete identification from fragmentary material is often limited, but such fossils still hold considerable scientific and educational value.

Morphology Features:

Dense, robust fossilised bone fragment

May show surface texture such as striations or curvature

Preserved in laminated dark grey micaceous mudstone

Could represent part of a limb, rib, or vertebral structure

Specimen Information:

Fossil Type: Reptile Bone in Matrix Block

Geological Formation: Westbury Formation

Group: Penarth Group

Geological Stage: Rhaetian Stage, Upper Triassic

Location: Aust Cliff, Bristol, UK

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine / lagoonal

Discovered By: Alister & Alison (UKGE Team)

Date of Discovery: 07 April 2025

This is a well-preserved and scientifically significant fossil from a globally recognised British Triassic vertebrate site. It makes an excellent addition for fossil collectors, educators, or palaeontology enthusiasts interested in the evolution of marine reptiles.

Scale cube = 1cm. Please see photo for full sizing and preservation detail.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.