Charmouth Mudstone Formation
Stratigraphic range: Lower Sinemurian– Lower Pliensbachian Semicostatum-lowermost Margaritatus 198–188 Ma

PreЄ

Cliffs of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation at Charmouth, Dorset

Type| Formation
Unit of| Lias Group
Sub-units| Shales With Beef Member, Black Ven Marl Member, Belemnite Marl Member, Green Ammonite Member
Underlies| Dyrham Formation, Marlstone Rock Formation, unconformity with Gault (Charmouth area)
Overlies| Blue Lias Formation, Scunthorpe Mudstone
Area| Wessex Basin, Worcester Basin, East Midland Shelf
Thickness| ~335 m
Lithology
Primary| Shale, mudstone
Other| Limestone, sandstone
Location
Region| England
Country| United Kingdom
Type section
Named for| Charmouth
Location| Cliff and foreshore exposures between Seven Rock Point and Golden Cap, Dorset

The Charmouth Mudstone Formation is a geological formation in England, dating to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian–Pliensbachian).[1] It forms part of the lower Lias Group. It is most prominently exposed at its type locality in cliff section between Lyme Regis and Charmouth (alongside the underlying Blue Lias) but onshore it extends northwards to Market Weighton, Yorkshire, and in the subsurface of the East Midlands Shelf and Wessex Basin. The formation is notable for its fossils, including those of ammonites and marine reptiles and rare dinosaur remains. The formation played a prominent role in the history of early paleontology, with its Lyme Regis-Charmouth exposure being frequented by fossil collectors including Mary Anning.

## Contents

* 1 Stratigraphy
* 1.1 Shales With Beef Member
* 1.2 Black Ven Marl Member
* 1.3 Belemnite Marl Member
* 1.4 Green Ammonite Member
* 2 Paleobiota
* 2.1 Ammonites
* 2.2 Sauropterygia
* 2.3 Ichthyosauria
* 2.4 Thalattosuchia
* 2.5 Pterosauria
* 2.6 Dinosauria
* 2.7 Fish
* 2.8 Insects
* 2.9 Plants
* 3 See also
* 4 References

## Stratigraphy

### Shales With Beef Member

The Shales With Beef Member is around 28–30 metres thick in the Lyme Regis-Charmouth region and predominantly consists of thinly bedded medium to dark grey mudstone, blocky calcareous pale-weathering mudstone and brown-grey organic-rich mudstones with frequent bedding parallel veins of fibrous calcite ("beef"), that are usually less than 10 centimetres thick. Several beds of nodular and tabular limestone are also present. It is the lowest unit of the formation and directly overlies the Blue Lias Formation, with the boundary being marked by a prominent bioturbated horizon. Notable persistent marker beds within the member include the laminated calcareous siltstone "Fish Bed", "Table Ledge", which consists of lens beds of limestones with mud content with nests of rhynchonellid brachiopods, the Devonshire Head and the Spittles limestones and the Birchi Nodules (which are septarian concretions) The upper boundary with the Black Ven Marl Member is marked by the prominent laterally persistent limestone Birchi Tabular Bed.[2]

### Black Ven Marl Member

The Black Ven Marl Member is around 43 metres thick consists of thinly bedded dark mudstones,[3] with several laterally persistent cementstone horizons, notable horizons include the Lower and Upper Cement beds and the Stellare nodules.

### Belemnite Marl Member

The Belemnite Marl Member is around 20 to 27 metres thick, and consists of interbedded pale and dark grey calcareous mudstone, with numerous belemnites, hence the name. The top of the member is marked by the Belemnite Stone Bed[4]

### Green Ammonite Member

The Green Ammonite Member is up to 31 metres thick predominantly consists of medium grey mudstones, with 3 limestone horizons, Lower Limestone; Red Band, and Upper Limestone, it is conformably overlain by the Dyrham Formation in some areas,[5] but in the Charmouth area there is an erosive unconformable boundary with the much younger Early Cretaceous (Albian) aged Gault clays.

## Paleobiota

Vertebrate fauna of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

### Ammonites

Ammonites of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images
Apoderoceras | A. cf. dunrobinense, A. subtriangulare |  |  |  |  |
Arnioceras | A. semicostatum |  | Semicostatum Zone  |  |  |
Asteroceras | A. obtusum |  | Obtusum zone  |  |  |
Caenisites |  |  |  |  |  |
Cymbites |  |  |  |  |  |
Echioceras | E. raricostatum |  | Raricostatum Zone  |  |  |
Eoderoceras | E. bispinigerum |  |  |  |  |
Gemmellaroceras | G. cf. peregrinum |  | Belemnite Marls  |  |  |
Oxynoticeras | O. williamsi |  |  |  |  |
Phricodoceras | P. taylori, P. lamellosum |  | Belemnite Marls  |  |  |
Promicroceras | P. planicosta |  | Obtusum Zone  |  |  |
Radstockiceras | R. complicatum |  |  |  |  |
Tragophylloceras | T. ibex, T. loscombi |  | Green Ammonite Member  |  |  |
Uptonia | U. bronni |  |  |  |  |
Xipheroceras |  |  |  |  |  |

### Sauropterygia

Sauropterygia of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images

Archaeonectrus[6]

A. rostratus

Charmouth

Arnioceras semicostatum-Echioceras raricostatum ammonoid zone

BMNH 38525 (holotype skeleton)

A marine sauropterygian, member of the family Rhomaleosauridae

Attenborosaurus[7]

A. conybeari

* Black Ven Water, Charmouth
* Northwest corner of Black Ven Water

Asteroceras obtusum, Arnioceras semicostatum-Echioceras raricostatum ammonoid zones

* Holotype skeleton (now destroyed)
* BMNH 40140, partial skeleton and skull

A marine sauropterygian, early member of the family Pliosauridae. It was first identified as Plesiosaurus conybeari.

|  Cast of the holotype

?Plesiosaurus[8]

? P. sp.

* Eastern point of Wear Cliffs, below Golden Cap

Prodactylioceras davoei ammonoid zone

* BRSMG Ce17972a-o, articulated juvenile partial postcranial skeleton

A marine sauropterygian, type member of the family Plesiosauroidea inside Plesiosauria. A juvenile specimen that resembles those assigned to the genus Plesiosaurus. Its assignation is dubious.

Plesiosaurus[9]

P. dolichodeirus

* Lyme Regis

Echioceras raricostatum ammonoid zone

* Holotype (BMNH 22656)
* Numerous specimens referred

A marine sauropterygian, type member of the family Plesiosauroidea inside Plesiosauria. The typical plesiosaur, and one of the most common found on the formation.

Thaumatodracon[10] | T. wiedenrothi | Between Lyme Regis and Charmouth  | Black Ven  | NLMH 106.058, "a partial skeleton comprising a complete cranium, mandible, articulated cervical series, and indeterminate fragmentary remains"  | A rhomaleosaurid  |

### Ichthyosauria

Ichthyosauria of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images

Ichthyosaurus

I. anningae[11]

Charmouth

Stonebarrow Marls Member

DONMG:1983.98 Subadult specimen

An ichthyosaurid ichthyosaur

Ichthyosaurus sp.

West of Westhay Water, Stonebarrow

Stonebarrow Marls Member

NHMUK R15907, partial skeleton[12]

Considered to belong to I. communis by Bennett et al. 2012, considered indeterminate within Ichthyosaurus by Lomax and Massare 2015

Leptonectes

L. moorei[13]

Seatown

Belemnite Marls Member

BMNH R14370 partial anterior skeleton with most complete skull

A leptonectid ichthyosaur

L. solei[14]

Seatown

Acanthopleuroceras valdani Subzone, Tragophylloceras ibex Zone, lower Pliensbachian

NMW 91.296.2.2 "a large, isolated and incomplete forefin"

Xiphodracon | X. goldencapensis[15] | Golden Cap  | Green Ammonite Member, Davoei Zone, Maculatum Subzone, lower Pliensbachian  | ROM VP52596 "almost complete skull and skeleton, missing one hindfin and the posterior part of the tail"  | A leptonectid ichthyosaur  |
Temnodontosaurus | T. platyodon[16] |  |  |  |  | Temnodontosaurus platyodon.

### Thalattosuchia

Thalattosuchia of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images
Thalattosuchia[17] | Indeterminate  |

* Stonebarrow beach, Charmouth
* Conesby Quarry, Scunthorpe

| Black Ven Mudstone Member  |

* NHMUK PV R 36710, incomplete snout
* NHMUK PV R 9731, axis and four post-axial cervical vertebrae. Two incomplete axial ribs, the lef fourth cervical rib, and two cervical rib fragments
* NHMUK PV R 36 711, dorsal vertebra from the caudal end of the dorsal series, and the neural arch of another dorsal vertebra, both held together by matrix

| Early Thalattosaurian specimens that can't be referred to any concrete genus. Includes a possible early diverging metriorhynchoid  |

Turnersuchus[18]

T. hingleyae

| 1 kilometer west of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre  |

Belemnite Marl Member

LRM 2021/45, a partial skeleton including cranial material, cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, ribs, right pectoral girdle, partial limb bones, and an osteoderm

An early diverging thalattosuchian.

thumb

### Pterosauria

Pterosauria of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images

Dimorphodon[19]

D. macronyx

* Charmouth
* Lyme Regis

Black Ven Marl Member

* Tail Fragments
* Tibia
* Femur
* Humerus
* Phalanax
* Metacarps
* Semi-Complete Skeletons

A basal pterosaur and the type member of the family Dimorphodontidae.

Dimorphodontidae[20][21]

Indeterminate

* Charmouth, Black Ven
* Lyme Regis

Black Ven Marl Member

* OUM J.53070
* NHMUK PV R1595, wing phalanges

A basal dimorphodontid pterosaur. Known as "Charmouth dimorphodontid" it shares resemblance with the genus Dimorphodon.

Indeterminate[22]

* Near Seatown

Lower Pliensbachian member

Associated remains of the rostrum and mandibles

A basal dimorphodontid pterosaur. The relatively deep rostrum and extreme size dimorphism in the dentition show clear similarities to Dimorphodon, also from the Lias of Dorset. The distinctive dentition, in which the first four pairs of rostral teeth and two pairs of mandibular teeth are relatively large and fang-like, while the remaining teeth are remarkably small and short.[22]

### Dinosauria

Dinosauria of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images

Coelophysidae[23][24]

"Megalosaurus" lydekkeri

Lyme Regis

Black Ven Marl Member

* NHMUK OR 41352, isolated tooth

A theropod, possibly a member of Coelophysidae inside Neotheropoda. Invalid and non diagnostic. It was identified as Zanclodon(?) sp. b., Megalosaurus lydekkeri and reassigned as Magnosaurus(?) lydekkeri.[25] Mortimer found that was changed to "Megalosaurus" woodwardi later.[25] It was found on mostly of recent works to be non diagnostic, probably a coelophysoid.[24]

Dornraptor[26]

D. normani

Lower cliff face, Charmouth

Black Ven Marl Member (Likely)

* NHMUK OR 39496, Partial hind limb
* GSM 109560, left femur

An Averostran theropod, possible Ceratosaur or Tetanuran. In 2024 was formally described, but referred to the older Blue Lias.[26] A paper non quoted on the description relocated it on the Charmouth mudstone.[27]

Neotheropoda[27]

Indeterminate

Near Lyme Regis

obtusum Zone, obtusum subzone

* NHMUK PV R36855, Left fibula, ~ 17 cm long

A theropod, possibly a basal member of Neotheropoda. Previously misidentified as a referred specimen of the pterosaur Dimorphodon macronyx.[28] NHMUK PV R36855 differs from those of all other Early Jurassic-Late Triassic, theropods in its combination of features, but bears no discernible autapomorphies.[27] It is similar to Tawa, Dracoraptor and Liliensternus, being considered an early branching neotheropod, with a size range similar to Coelophysis bauri, representing an individual of approximately 10 kg, approximately the same size as Coelophysis bauri.[27]

Massopoda[29]

Indeterminate

lower cliff face, Charmouth

obtusum Zone, obtusum subzone

* GSM 109561 pedal ungual

A sauropodomorph, possibly a member of Massopoda. While it was not associated with BMNH 39496 or GSM 109560 and was not assigned to "Merosaurus" it was classified as coming from an indeterminate theropod. Mortimer found closer resemblance with pedal unguals of basal massopods like Blikanasaurus and Jingshanosaurus.[30]

Scelidosaurus[31][32]

S. harrisonii

* Charmouth, Black Ven
* Black Ven landslip

Black Ven Marl Member

* NHMUK OR42068. Six osteoderms
* NHMUK OR42070. Phalanx.
* NHMUK OR42072. Large bone fragment – indet.
* NHMUK OR42074. Ulna (paired with NHMOR41323).
* NHMUK OR43062. Shaft of a large humerus, crushed proximal femur, fibula, fragmentary radius?, other large bone fragments
* NHMUK OR46011. Probable rib fragment – indet.
* BRSMG Ce12785. Partial skull and some disarticulated postcranial elements
* BRSMG Ce12787. Partly eroded femur and vertebra
* BRSMG Ce12788. cervical osteoderms.
* BRSMG Ce12789. Vertebra and bone fragments
* BRSMG Cf2781. nine middle-distal caudal vertebrae and some haemal arches with some organic (kerogenized) remains of the skin preserved.
* BRSMG LEGL 0004. Articulated skeleton
* BRSMG LEGL 0005. Articulated partial skeleton
* DORCM G.7542. Osteoderms
* DORCM G.10817. Osteoderms
* CAMSM X39256. Cranial: disarticulated skull and jaw elements

A basal thyreophoran, and the type member of the family Scelidosauridae. One of the best known armored dinosaurs of the lower Jurassic, also the most complete found to date, with specimens preserving even the skin and dermal armour.[32]

S. "sp. A"

Belemnite Marls at Seatown

* Belemnite Marl Member, Uptonia jamesoni Zone

* DORCM G.7842. Three dorsal vertebrae in articulation

Cf. S. sp.

Foot of Black Ven, Charmouth

Asteroceras obtusum ammonoid zone, Black Ven Marl Member

* NHMUK R6704, juvenile specimen
* NHMUK R12019. A posterior fragment of the occiput and an articulated series of six cervical vertebrae
* NHMUK R10103. Indeterminate bone fragments
* NHMUK OR28333. Two scapulae
* NHMUK OR32396. Radius
* NHMUK OR39516. Osteoderms.
* NHMUK OR39517. Caudal or?sacral vertebra, small distal caudal vertebra, small distal caudal
* NHMUK OR39518. Haemal arch (chevron).
* NHMUK OR39519. Two phalanges.

* NHMUK OR39520. Ungual phalanx of ?pes.

* NHMUK OR39521. Several bone fragments.
* NHMUK OR40503. Tibia (proximal end).
* NHMUK OR41322. Femur
* NHMUK OR41323. Radius
* NHMUK OR41324. Scapular blade
* NHMUK OR41325. Humerus
* NHMUK OR41326. Fibula
* NHMUK OR41327. Two caudal vertebrae
* NHMUK OR41328. Three metatarsals
* NHMUK OR41329. Osteoderm
* NHMUK OR41330. Ischium

### Fish

Numerous fish species are known from the Charmouth Mudstone and underlying Blue Lias, from such horizons as the "Fish Bed" of the Shales With Beef Member.

Fish of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images
Acrodus |  |  |  |  | A hybodont shark  |
Hybodus |  |  |  |  | A hybodont shark  |
Palidiplospinax |  |  |  |  | A synechodontiform shark  |
Squaloraja | S. tenuispina, S. polyspondyla |  |  |  | A ray-like holocephalan fish related to modern chimaeras |
Myriacanthus | M. paradoxus, M. granulatus |  | Black Ven Marl Member  |  | A myriacanthid closely related to modern chimaeras  |
Dorsetichthys | D. bechei |  |  |  | A stem-group teleost |
"Coccolepis" | "C." liassicus |  |  |  | A coccolepidid "palaeoniscoid" fish, probably does not belong to the genus  |
Holophagus | H. gulo |  |  |  | A coelacanth |
Chondrosteus | C. acipenseroides |  |  |  | A chondrosteid acipenseriform fish, related to sturgeon and paddlefish |
Oxygnathus | O. ornatus |  |  |  | A palaeonisciform fish  |
Saurorhynchus | S. brevirostris, S. anningae |  |  |  | A member of Saurichthyiformes |
Ptycholepis | P. gracilis, P. curtus |  |  |  | A palaeonisciform fish  |
Dapedium | Spp.  |  |  |  | A dapediiform fish  |
Caturus | Spp.  |  |  |  | An amiiform fish related to bowfins |
Platysiagum | P. sclerocephalum |  |  |  | A platysiagid fish  |
Furo | F. orthostomus |  |  |  | A member of Ionoscopiformes within Halecomorphi |

### Insects

Numerous species of insect are known from concretions, predominately in the Black Ven Marl Member.[33][34][35][36]

Insects of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation

Genus  | Species  | Location  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images
Anglophlebia[37] | A. gigantea | Woodstones, Black Ven  | Black Ven Marl Member  | NHMUK In.51030, part and counterpart of partial forewing  | Damsel-dragonfly  | frameless
Archaeolepis[38] | A. mane | Birchi Nodules, Black Ven  | Shales with Beef  | Isolated wing  | Among the oldest known lepidopterans |
Archelcana[38] | A. durnovaria | Woodstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59162  | Elcanid orthopteran |
Austaulius[39] | A. haustrum | Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis  | Black Ven Marl Member  | NHMUK II 3103  | Necrotauliid caddisfly |
Brevicula[38][40][41] | B. gradus, B. maculata | Flatstones, Woodstones;Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis  | Black Ven Marl Member  | B. gradus: Holotype: NHMUK In.53993, female with ovipositor, B. maculata: Holotype: NHMUK II.3086, isolated Tegmina  | Dermapterid earwig  |
Brochocoleus[38] | B. maculatus | Flatstones, Stonebarrow  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49577, 59133, 59361, 59154  | Ommatid beetle  |
Chrismooreia[42] | C. michaelbehei | Charmouth  | Obtusum Zone  | Part and counterpart of a mostly complete specimen  | Asiopterid damsel-dragonfly  | File:108-750-2-SP.tif
Dacryoderma[41] | B. teres | Charmouth-by-pass construction site  | Obtusum Zone  | Isolated tegmen  | Dermapterid earwig  |
Daniilacheta[43] | D. aristovi | Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed  | Shales with Beef Member  | ZIN LD/Orth 19  | Protogryllidae cricket  |
Dorsettia[38] | D. laeta | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59375, a male hindwing fragment  | Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly, genus also known from China  |
Durnovaria[38] | D. parallela | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59171  | Aerophasmatid, Stem group of Phasmatodea |
Elaterina[38] | E. liassica | Lyme Regis  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59369  | Click beetle |
Elaterophanes[40] | E. regius | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59385, 53952  | Click beetle  |
Eoptychoptera[38] | E. spectra | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49226  | Ptychopterid fly, formerly referred to the genus Prodocidia |
Hagla[38] | H. cf. gracilis | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59167  | Haglidae hump-winged cricket  |
Holcoptera[37][38][40] | H. giebeli, H. alisonae; H. schlotheimi | Flatstones; Bed 75, Black Ven; Catherstone Lane; Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis  | Black Ven Marl Member  | Complete specimen, isolated wings  | Coptoclavid beetle  |
Hypsothemis[38] | H. fraseri | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59109, a hindwing  | Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly, genus also known from China and Kazakhstan  |
Jurachorista[44] | J. bashkuevi | Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed  | Shales with Beef Member  | ISEA I-F/MP/4/1637/14  | Eomeropid scorpionfly  |
Lateophlebia[38] | L. anglicanopsis | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49573, 59376  | Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly  |
Lethonectes[45] | L. naucoroides | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49615, 51014(59383)  | Belostomatidae giant water bug  |
Liassocorixa[45] | L. dorsetica | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59166  | Corixid bug  |
Liassocupes[37] | L. parvus | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 64008, 49210  | Ommatid beetle  |
Liassophlebia[38] | L. pseudomagnifica | Stonebarrow  | Black Ven Marl Member  | NHMUK In.64000, partial hindwing  | Liassophlebiid damsel-dragonfly  |
Locustopsis[38][43] | L. spectabilis | Flatstones; Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed  | Black Ven Marl Member  | ZIN LD/Orth 1, Orth 4, Orth 10, Orth 18, Orth 31  | Locustopsid grasshopper  |
Megarhyphus[46] | M. amberae | Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed  | Shales with Beef Member  | NHML In 28447  | Anisopodidae wood gnat  |
"Mesocixiella"[38] | "M." fennahi | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53942  | Fulgoridiid planthopper, does not belong to the genus Mesocixiella |
Metaraphidia[38] | M. confusa | Charmouth (GSM)  | Black Ven Marl Member  | GSM 117552  | Snakefly |
Micromacula[38] | M. gracilis | Flatstones, Birchi Nodules; Flatstones, Black Ven  | Shales with Beef; Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49230  | Regiatid orthopteran  |
Mimemala[38] | M. giganteum | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 51026  | Schizocoleid beetle  |
Nannoblattina[38] | N. petulantia | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53929, 51004  | Mesoblattinid cockroach  |
Nannotanyderus[47] | N. oliviae | Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed  | Shales with Beef Member  | ISEA I-F/MP/2/1621/13, 12  | Tanyderid fly  |
Neomeridium[45] | N. trifurcum | Woodstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59151, 51039, 53901, 64014  | Pachymeridiid Lygaeoid bug |
Oligophryne[48] | O. britannica | Stonebarrow Hill  | Black Ven Marl Member  | Coll. Ansorge fly No 1  | Oligophrynidae fly  |
Omma[38] | O. liassicum | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH 59132  | Ommatid beetle, genus extant  |
Orthophlebia[38] | O. capillata | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53924, an exoskeleton (wings & thorax)  | Orthophlebiid scorpionfly  |
Orichalcum[38] | O. ornatum | Flatstones, Birchi Nodules  | Shales with Beef  | BMNH In 53983  | Triassomanteidae grasshopper  |
Paraprosbole[38] | P. rotruda | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59374, 48162, 64395  | Tettigarctid cicada  |
Propreocoris[45] | P. maculatus | Woodstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59152  | Stem-group to Ochteridae and Gelastocoridae |
Protogryllus[38] | P. (Archaegryllodes) magnus | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 44003, 51016, 51022, 59373  | Protogryllidae cricket  |
Protohagla[37][38] | P. langi | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 59018  | Haglid cricket  |
Protomyrmeleon[42] | P. cf. brunonis | Charmouth burden pile  | Black Ven Marl Member  | AR 428  | Protomyrmeleontidae winged insect  |
Protorthophlebia[38] | P. latipennis | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49575, 53954, 53963, 59120, 59365, 59371, 59384  | Protorthophlebiid scorpionfly  |
Priscaenigma[38] | P. obtusa | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53898  | Snakefly  |
Pseudopolycentropus[37] | P. triangularis | Woodstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53915  | Pseudopolycentropodid scorpionfly |
Pterocimex[45] | P. jacksoni | Woodstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH in 53909, 49589, 51048, 59359  | Nepomorphan |
Regiata[38] | R. scutra | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 64027  | Regiatid orthopteran  |
Rhipidoblattina[38] | R. ssp. | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 49212, 49249, 53909, 53920  | Caloblattinidae cockroach  |
Rossiphlebia[38] | R. jacksoni | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | NHMUK In.53999, part and counterpart of a partial hindwing  | Liassophlebiid damsel-dragonfly  |
Tarsabedus[45] | T. menkei | 0.6 km east Charmouth  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BRSMG Cc 688  | Belostomatidae giant water bug  |
Tersus[38] | T. crowsoni | Flatstones  | Black Ven Marl Member  | BMNH In 53949, 59038  | Schizophorid beetle  |

### Plants

Genus  | Species  | Stratigraphic position  | Material  | Notes  | Images

|
|
|
|
|

Ctenozamites[49] |

* C. cycadea

* Lyme regis
* Charmouth

| Isolated shoots  | A "Seed Fern" of the group with Corystospermales |
Cycadites[49] |

* C. rectangularis

* Lyme regis

| Isolated shoots  | A possible Cycadophyte leaf, related with Cycadales. Alternatively, it can be of Bennettite origin  |
Cycadeoidea[49] |

* C. gracilis

* Lyme regis

| Stems  | Bennettite Trunks of the family Cycadeoidaceae | Example of specimen of the genus
Cycadopteris[49] |

* C. jurensis

* Lyme regis

| Isolated shoots  | A "Seed Fern" of the group with Corystospermales | Shoot of the same species
Otozamites[50] |

* O. obtusus

* Lyme regis
* Charmouth
* Seatown

| Isolated shoots  | Bennettite leafs of the family Williamsoniaceae | Shoot of the same species
Pagiophyllum[50] |

* P. peregrinum
* P. sewardii

* Lyme regis
* Charmouth
* Seatown
* Wear Cliffs

| Isolated shoots  | Conifer shoots of the family Hirmeriellaceae or Araucariaceae | Shoot of the same species

## See also

* List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in England
* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

* Blue Lias, England
* Sorthat Formation, Denmark
* Hasle Formation, Denmark
* Zagaje Formation, Poland
* Drzewica Formation, Poland
* Ciechocinek Formation, Poland
* Borucice Formation, Poland
* Rotzo Formation, Italy
* Saltrio Formation, Italy
* Moltrasio Formation, Italy
* Marne di Monte Serrone, Italy
* Calcare di Sogno, Italy
* Podpeč Limestone, Slovenia
* Coimbra Formation, Portugal
* El Pedregal Formation, Spain
* Fernie Formation, Canada
* Whiteaves Formation, British Columbia
* Navajo Sandstone, Utah
* Aganane Formation, Morocco
* Tafraout Group, Morocco
* Azilal Formation, Morocco
* Budoš Limestone, Montenegro
* Kota Formation, India
* Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Argentina
* Los Molles Formation, Argentina
* Kandreho Formation, Madagascar
* Elliot Formation, South Africa
* Clarens Formation, South Africa
* Evergreen Formation, Australia
* Cattamarra Coal Measures, Australia
* Hanson Formation, Antarctica
* Mawson Formation, Antarctica

## References

1. ↑ British Geological Survey. "Charmouth Mudstone Formation". http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=CHAM.
2. ↑ Gallois, R.W. (2008). The lithostratigraphy of the Shales-with-Beef Member of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Lower Jurassic. Ussher Society. OCLC 703253954. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9615/1/Shales-with-Beef_2008.pdf.
3. ↑ "Black Ven Marl Member". British Geological Survey. http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=BVM.
4. ↑ "Belemnite Marl Member". British Geological Survey. http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=BM.
5. ↑ "Green Ammonite Member". British Geological Survey. http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=GAB.
6. ↑ Owen (1865). "Monograph of the Fossil Reptilia of the Liassic Formations. Part First. Sauropterygia". Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society 17 (75): 1–40. doi:10.1080/02693445.1865.12027939. ISSN 0269-3445. Bibcode: 1865MPalS..17....1O.
7. ↑ Sollas, W. J. (1881). "On a new Species of Plesiosaurus (P. Conybeari) from the Lower Lias of Charmouth; with Observations on P. megacephalus, Stutchbury, and P. brachycephalus, Owen". Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society 37 (1–4): 440–481. doi:10.1144/gsl.jgs.1881.037.01-04.42. ISSN 0370-291X.
8. ↑ Storrs, G. W. (1995). "A juvenile specimen of ? Plesiosaurus sp. from the Lias (Lower Jurassic, Pliensbachian) near Charmouth, Dorset, England". Proceedings of the Dorsal Archaeological and Natural History Society 116 (2): 71–76. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259822957.
9. ↑ CONYBEARE, W. D. (1824). "XXI.—On the Discovery of an almost perfect Skeleton of the Plesiosaurus.". Transactions of the Geological Society of London 1 (2): 381–389. doi:10.1144/transgslb.1.2.381. ISSN 2042-5295.
10. ↑ Smith, Adam S.; Araújo, Ricardo (2017-07-21). "Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi, a morphometrically and stratigraphically intermediate new rhomaleosaurid plesiosaurian from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Lyme Regis". Palaeontographica Abteilung A 308 (4–6): 89–125. doi:10.1127/pala/308/2017/89. ISSN 0375-0442. Bibcode: 2017PalAA.308...89S.
11. ↑ Lomax, Dean R.; Massare, Judy A. (2015-03-04). "A new species of Ichthyosaurus from the Lower Jurassic of West Dorset, England, U.K." (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35 (2). doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.903260. ISSN 0272-4634. Bibcode: 2015JVPal..35E3260L. http://osf.io/89nhw.
12. ↑ Bennett, S.P.; Barrett, P.M.; Collinson, M.E.; Moore-Fay, S.; Davis, P.G.; Palmer, C.P. (January 2012). "A new specimen of Ichthyosaurus communis from Dorset, UK, and its bearing on the stratigraphical range of the species" (in en). Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 123 (1): 146–154. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2011.07.001. Bibcode: 2012PrGA..123..146B.
13. ↑ McGowan, Christopher; Milner, Angela C. (October 1999). "A new Pliensbachian ichthyosaur from Dorset, England" (in en). Palaeontology 42 (5): 761–768. doi:10.1111/1475-4983.00096. ISSN 0031-0239. Bibcode: 1999Palgy..42..761M.
14. ↑ Lomax, Dean R.; Massare, Judy A. (December 2018). "A forefin of Leptonectes solei from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, UK" (in en). Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 129 (6): 770–773. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2018.07.005. Bibcode: 2018PrGA..129..770L. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/a-forefin-of-leptonectes-solei-from-the-lower-jurassic-pliensbachian-of-dorset-uk(569a32a2-dbcf-40d9-9055-4d16351f6c19).html.
15. ↑ Lomax, Dean R.; Massare, Judy A.; Maxwell, Erin E. (September 2025). "A new long and narrow‐snouted ichthyosaur illuminates a complex faunal turnover during an undersampled Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) interval" (in en). Papers in Palaeontology 11 (5). doi:10.1002/spp2.70038. ISSN 2056-2799.
16. ↑ "PBDB". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicCollectionSearch?collection_no=98103.
17. ↑ Young, Mark T; Dufeau, David; Bowman, Charlotte; Cowgill, Thomas; Schwab, Julia A; Witmer, Lawrence M; Herrera, Yanina; Katsamenis, Orestis L et al. (2024). "Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs from the Sinemurian (Early Jurassic) of the UK". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/201/3/zlae079/7713265.
18. ↑ Wilberg, E. W.; Godoy, P. L.; Griffiths, E. F.; Turner, A. H.; Benson, R. B. J. (2023). "A new early diverging thalattosuchian (Crocodylomorpha) from the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, U.K. and implications for the origin and evolution of the group". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 42 (3): e2161909. doi:10.1080/02724634.2022.2161909. https://zenodo.org/record/7594138.
19. ↑ Sangster, Sarah (2021-09-02). "THE OSTEOLOGY OF DIMORPHODON MACRONYX, A NON-PTERODACTYLOID PTEROSAUR FROM THE LOWER JURASSIC OF DORSET, ENGLAND". Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society 175 (661): 1–48. doi:10.1080/02693445.2021.2037868. ISSN 0269-3445. Bibcode: 2021MPalS.175....1S.
20. ↑ Unwin, David M. (2003). "On the phylogeny and evolutionary history of pterosaurs". Geological Society, London, Special Publications 217 (1): 139–190. doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.2003.217.01.11. ISSN 0305-8719. Bibcode: 2003GSLSP.217..139U.
21. ↑ Butler, Richard J.; Barrett, Paul M.; Nowbath, Stephen; Upchurch, Paul (2009). "Estimating the effects of sampling biases on pterosaur diversity patterns: implications for hypotheses of bird/pterosaur competitive replacement". Paleobiology 35 (3): 432–446. doi:10.1666/0094-8373-35.3.432. ISSN 0094-8373. Bibcode: 2009Pbio...35..432B.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Unwin, D. M. (2011). "A new dimorphodontid pterosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Dorset, southern England". 59th Annual Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative AnatomyLyme Regis, Dorset, UK.
23. ↑ Lydekker, Richard (1888). Catalogue of the fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum (Natural history) ... By Richard Lydekker .... London: Printed by order of the Trustees. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.61848.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Carrano, Matthew T.; Sampson, Scott D. (2004-09-27). "A review of coelophysoids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Jurassic of Europe, with comments on the late history of the Coelophysoidea". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Monatshefte 2004 (9): 537–558. doi:10.1127/njgpm/2004/2004/537. ISSN 0028-3630.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Mortimer, Mickey (2012-11-24). "The Theropod Database Blog: "New" name for Megalosaurus? lydekkeri". https://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2012/11/new-name-for-megalosaurus-lydekkeri.html.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Baron, Matthew G. (2024-04-29). "A new name for old bones: A reassessment of Early Jurassic theropod remains from Dorset, England" (in English). Palaeontologia Electronica 27 (1): 1–12. doi:10.26879/1346. ISSN 1094-8074. https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2024/5067-on-an-early-jurassic-theropod.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Choiniere, Jonah N.; Wills, Simon; Bennett, S. Christopher; Barrett, Paul M. (2020). "A small theropod dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic Lias Group of Charmouth, Dorset". Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 131 (6): 751–757. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.003. ISSN 0016-7878. Bibcode: 2020PrGA..131..751C.
28. ↑ STEEL, Lorna (2012). "The Pterosaur Collection at the Natural History Museum, London, UK: an Overview and List of Specimens, with Description of Recent Curatorial Developments". Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition 86 (6): 1340–1355. doi:10.1111/1755-6724.12004. ISSN 1000-9515.
29. ↑ Benson, Roger B. J. (2010-03-15). "The osteology of Magnosaurus nethercombensis (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of the United Kingdom and a re-examination of the oldest records of tetanurans". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8 (1): 131–146. doi:10.1080/14772011003603515. ISSN 1477-2019. Bibcode: 2010JSPal...8..131B.
30. ↑ Mortimer, Mickey (2010-04-17). "The Theropod Database Blog: Pickering's taxa 4: Merosaurus newmani". https://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2010/04/pickerings-taxa-4-merosaurus-newmani.html.
31. ↑ Norman, David B (2019-11-29). "Scelidosaurus harrisonii from the Early Jurassic of Dorset, England: cranial anatomy". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 188 (1): 1–81. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz074. ISSN 0024-4082.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Norman, David B (2019-12-17). "Scelidosaurus harrisonii from the Early Jurassic of Dorset, England: postcranial skeleton". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189 (1): 47–157. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz078. ISSN 0024-4082.
33. ↑ "Flatstones, Charmouth (Jackson collection) (Jurassic of the United Kingdom)". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=114637.
34. ↑ "Flatstones, Stonebarrow, Charmouth (Jackson collection) (Jurassic of the United Kingdom)". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=114638.
35. ↑ "Flatstones, Black Ven, Charmouth (Jackson collection)". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=114639.
36. ↑ "Woodstones, Black Ven, Charmouth (Jackson collection)". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=114640.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Zeuner, F. E. (1962). "Fossil insects from the Lower Lias of Charmouth, Dorset". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology 7 (1): 155–171. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/83511.
38. ↑ 38.00 38.01 38.02 38.03 38.04 38.05 38.06 38.07 38.08 38.09 38.10 38.11 38.12 38.13 38.14 38.15 38.16 38.17 38.18 38.19 38.20 38.21 38.22 38.23 38.24 38.25 38.26 38.27 38.28 38.29 38.30 Whalley, P. E. S. (1985). "The systematics and palaeogeography of the Lower Jurassic insects of Dorset, England". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology 39 (3): 107–189. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/83348.
39. ↑ Kelly, Richard S.; Ross, Andrew J.; Coram, Robert A. (2018). "A Review of Necrotauliids from the Triassic/Jurassic of England (Trichoptera: Necrotauliidae)". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology 2018: 1–12. doi:10.1155/2018/6706120. ISSN 0033-2615.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Thomson, Ulysses; Ross, Andrew J.; Davidson, Philip (2017). "Mesozoic Holcoptera (Coleoptera: Coptoclavidae) from England and the United States". Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 128 (4): 659–674. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2017.05.009. ISSN 0016-7878. Bibcode: 2017PrGA..128..659T.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Kelly, Richard S.; Ross, Andrew J.; Jarzembowski, Edmund A. (2016). "Earwigs (Dermaptera) from the Mesozoic of England and Australia, described from isolated tegmina, including the first species to be named from the Triassic". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 107 (2–3): 129–143. doi:10.1017/s1755691017000329. ISSN 1755-6910. Bibcode: 2016EESTR.107..129K.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Bechly, Guenter (2018-04-27). "Chrismooreia michaelbehei gen. et sp. nov. (Insecta: Odonata: Asiopteridae), a new fossil damsel-dragonfly from the Early Jurassic of England". BIO-Complexity 2018 (1). doi:10.5048/bio-c.2018.1. ISSN 2151-7444.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 GOROCHOV, ANDREI V.; CORAM, ROBERT A. (2023-04-28). "New and little known taxa of the order Orthoptera (Insecta) from the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic of England". Palaeoentomology 6 (2). doi:10.11646/palaeoentomology.6.2.11. ISSN 2624-2834.
44. ↑ Soszyńska-Maj, Agnieszka; Krzemiński, Wiesław; Kopeć, Katarzyna; Coram, Robert A. (2016-02-05). "Phylogenetic relationships within the relict family Eomeropidae (Insecta, Mecoptera) based on the oldest fossil from the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Dorset, southern England". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 14 (12): 1025–1031. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1139007. ISSN 1477-2019. Bibcode: 2016JSPal..14.1025S.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 Popov, Yuri A.; Dolling, W. R.; Whalley, P. E. S. (1994). "British Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic Heteroptera and Coleorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera)". Genus 5 (4): 307–347. https://archive.org/details/genus-0867-1710-5-4-307-347.
46. ↑ EWA, Krzemińska; ROBERT, Coram A.; WIESŁAW, Krzeminski (2010). "A New Species of Megarhyphus, an Interesting Discovery from the Lower Jurassic of England (Diptera, Anisopodidae)". Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition 84 (4): 693–695. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00231.x. ISSN 1000-9515. Bibcode: 2010AcGlS..84..693E.
47. ↑ Skibińska, Kornelia; Krzemiński, Wiesław; Coram, Robert A. (2014-08-28). "Discovery of the most ancient member of family Tanyderidae (Diptera) from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) of England". Zootaxa 3857 (1): 125–130. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3857.1.6. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 25283100.
48. ↑ Ansorge, J.; Krzemiński, W. (1994). "Oligophrynidae, a Lower Jurassic dipteran family (Diptera, Brachycera).". Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia 37 (2): 115–119. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268518046.
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 van Konijnenburg-van Cittert, Johanna H.A. (2008). "The Jurassic fossil plant record of the UK area". Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 119 (1): 59–72. doi:10.1016/s0016-7878(08)80258-1. ISSN 0016-7878. Bibcode: 2008PrGA..119...59V.
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Chamberlain, C. J. (1919). "Fossil Plants Fossil Plants, a Textbook for Students of Botany and Geology. A. C. Seward". Botanical Gazette 67 (1): 93–95. doi:10.1086/332400. ISSN 0006-8071.

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