The first new species for 46 years of large ammonites from the Lower Greensand rocks of Whale Chine has been described this week in the geology journal ‘Cretaceous Research’.
The authors have named it after the finder, Martin Simpson, who they describe as the “fossil hunter extraordinaire from Chale”.
The Latin name is Australiceras simpsoni and it is also the first of its kind of open-coiled heteromorphs to be found from the Boreal (Northern) Realm, other examples being known only from Australia.
The specimen was found in 1987 and is now housed in the collections at the Natural History Museum, London. The paper naming the species is available free to read online.
Martin, the Island’s ‘fossil man’, said,
“The moral of this story is to not collect only complete ammonites, but to save the partials as well because the bits may belong to something rare.
“It’s a real honour as a collector to have a species named after you, and it’s a great way to encourage private collectors to donate scientifically rare fossils to museums.
“The only down side is that Whale Chine, one of the most important fossil sites in the world, has been inaccessible for years despite being the gateway to the Island’s Cretaceous Coast.
“This is a shame when you look at the huge rise in geotourism in places like Lyme Regis in Dorset.”
News shared by Jenny. Ed
