‘T-Rex of the seas’ fossil found by novice fanatic off Jurassic Coast
This is the massive sea monster which was found by an novice fossil hunter and impressed Sir David Attenborough’s New Year’s Day documentary.
Philip Jacobs discovered the fossilised snout of a pliosaur – dubbed the “Tyrannosaurus Rex of the seas” – whereas looking a seaside on the Jurassic Coast. The artist and textile designer, 69, from West Bexington, Dorset, made his discovery in April 2022.
Philip mentioned: “As I walked into a bay I looked up and saw this great big thing laying on the shingle beach. I thought it is a big tree trunk but as I got closer I saw rows of interlocking teeth. I could not believe it. It was the most amazing find of my life.”
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He took his discover to the close by Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, which is run by fossil hunter Steve Etches.
(Image: Max Willcock/BNPS)
Steve realised the snout will need to have damaged away from the cliffs at Kimmeridge and it triggered the exceptional excavation and restoration of the remainder of the 7ft-long head of the pliosaur from 40ft up the rocks.
Steve mentioned: “It’s among the finest fossils I’ve ever labored on. What makes it distinctive is it’s full. The decrease jaw and the higher cranium are meshed collectively, as they might be in life. Worldwide, there’s hardly any specimens ever discovered to that stage of element.
(Image: PA)
“And if they are, a lot of the bits are missing, whereas this, although it’s slightly distorted – it’s got every bone present. The skull is longer than most humans are tall, which gives you a sense of how big the creature must have been overall. You can’t help but focus on its 130 teeth, especially those at the front. Long and razor sharp, they could kill with a single bite.”
Meals would have included different reptiles equivalent to its long-necked cousin, the plesiosaur, and the dolphin-like ichthyosaur – and fossil proof reveals that it will have even feasted on different passing pliosaurs.
* Attenborough And The Giant Sea Monster is on BBC1 on New Year’s Day.
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