Giant sea reptile discovered on Dorset beach goes on display

Summarised from BBC Dorset's report · Updated 26 Oct, 08:14 · Archive

A 10-metre ichthyosaur fossil found on the Dorset coast is now on display at Bridport Museum.

A rare fossil of a giant marine reptile has been discovered on a beach in Dorset by Belgian couple Michel and Carine Plissart, who have been searching the coast for fossils for 35 years. The remains of the 10-metre ichthyosaur are now on display at Bridport Museum in a new exhibition.

The ichthyosaur lived about 175 million years ago towards the end of the Early Jurassic Period. It is the first ichthyosaur found in its rock layer and has been described as 'globally significant'. The Plissarts discovered dark shapes in a sandstone bed while exploring a local beach and contacted the Charmouth Fossil Centre. The landowner later gifted the fossil to Bridport Museum, and grant funding was used to prepare it for study by experts at Bristol University.

Palaeontologist Sam Scriven, who led the excavation, said the creature lived nine million years after volcanic eruptions depleted oxygen levels in the world's oceans, causing mass extinctions. He noted that 'its very existence proves that the impact of this ancient environmental crisis on top marine predators is still not fully understood'. The exhibition runs until 17 April 2027 and includes a film, virtual reality experience and talks.

Read the report

• Giant sea reptile found by couple goes on displayThe 175-million-year-old reptile is the first ichthyosaur found in its rock layer.BBC Dorset · 26 Oct, 06:13

In this story: Michel Plissart · Carine Plissart · Bridport Museum · Dorset · Sam Scriven · Bristol University

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem