Charmouth Mudstone Formation Explained

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.

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

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.
?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
Ichthyosauria indet.	Indeterminate	Lyme Regis, Charmouth		Indeterminate remains	Un-attributable to any genus
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"
Temnodontosaurus	T. platyodon[15]

Thalattosuchia

Thalattosuchia of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Thalattosuchia[16]	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[17]	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.

Pterosauria

Pterosauria of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Dimorphodon[18]	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[19] [20]	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[21]	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.

Dinosauria

Dinosauria of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Coelophysidae[22] [23]	"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.[24] Mortimer found that was changed to "Megalosaurus" woodwardi later. It was found on mostly of recent works to be non diagnostic, probably a coelophysoid.
Dornraptor[25]	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. A paper non quoted on the description relocated it on the Charmouth mudstone.
Neotheropoda[26]	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.[27] NHMUK PV R36855 differs from those of all other Early Jurassic-Late Triassic, theropods in its combination of features, but bears no discernible autapomorphies. 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.
Massopoda[28]	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.[29]
Scelidosaurus[30] [31]	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.
	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				Closely 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 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.^{[32] [33] [34] [35]}

Insects of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Anglophlebia[36]	A. gigantea	Woodstones, Black Ven	Black Ven Marl Member	NHMUK In.51030, part and counterpart of partial forewing	Damsel-dragonfly
Archaeolepis[37]	A. mane	Birchi Nodules, Black Ven	Shales with Beef	Isolated wing	Among the oldest known lepidopterans
Archelcana	A. durnovaria	Woodstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59162	Elcanid orthopteran
Austaulius[38]	A. haustrum	Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis	Black Ven Marl Member	NHMUK II 3103	Necrotauliid caddisfly
Brevicula[39] [40]	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	B. maculatus	Flatstones, Stonebarrow	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49577, 59133, 59361, 59154	Ommatid beetle
Chrismooreia[41]	C. michaelbehei	Charmouth	Obtusum Zone	Part and counterpart of a mostly complete specimen	Asiopterid damsel-dragonfly
Dacryoderma	B. teres	Charmouth-by-pass construction site	Obtusum Zone	Isolated tegmen	Dermapterid earwig
Daniilacheta[42]	D. aristovi	Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed	Shales with Beef Member	ZIN LD/Orth 19	Protogryllidae cricket
Dorsettia	D. laeta	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59375, a male hindwing fragment	Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly, genus also known from China
Durnovaria	D. parallela	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59171	Aerophasmatid, Stem group of Phasmatodea
Elaterina	E. liassica	Lyme Regis	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59369	Click beetle
Elaterophanes	E. regius	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59385, 53952	Click beetle
Eoptychoptera	E. spectra	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49226	Ptychopterid fly, formerly referred to the genus Prodocidia
Hagla	H. cf. gracilis	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59167	Haglidae hump-winged cricket
Holcoptera	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	H. fraseri	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59109, a hindwing	Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly, genus also known from China and Kazakhstan
Jurachorista[43]	J. bashkuevi	Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed	Shales with Beef Member	ISEA I-F/MP/4/1637/14	Eomeropid scorpionfly
Lateophlebia	L. anglicanopsis	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49573, 59376	Campterophlebiid damsel-dragonfly
Lethonectes[44]	L. naucoroides	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49615, 51014(59383)	Belostomatidae giant water bug
Liassocorixa	L. dorsetica	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59166	Corixid bug
Liassocupes	L. parvus	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 64008, 49210	Ommatid beetle
Liassophlebia	L. pseudomagnifica	Stonebarrow	Black Ven Marl Member	NHMUK In.64000, partial hindwing	Liassophlebiid damsel-dragonfly
Locustopsis	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[45]	M. amberae	Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed	Shales with Beef Member	NHML In 28447	Anisopodidae wood gnat
"Mesocixiella"	"M." fennahi	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53942	Fulgoridiid planthopper, does not belong to the genus Mesocixiella
Metaraphidia	M. confusa	Charmouth (GSM)	Black Ven Marl Member	GSM 117552	Snakefly
Micromacula	M. gracilis	Flatstones, Birchi Nodules; Flatstones, Black Ven	Shales with Beef; Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49230	Regiatid orthopteran
Mimemala	M. giganteum	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 51026	Schizocoleid beetle
Nannoblattina	N. petulantia	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53929, 51004	Mesoblattinid cockroach
Nannotanyderus[46]	N. oliviae	Monmouth Beach, Brooki bed	Shales with Beef Member	ISEA I-F/MP/2/1621/13, 12	Tanyderid fly
Neomeridium	N. trifurcum	Woodstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59151, 51039, 53901, 64014	Pachymeridiid Lygaeoid bug
Oligophryne[47]	O. britannica	Stonebarrow Hill	Black Ven Marl Member	Coll. Ansorge fly No 1	Oligophrynidae fly
Omma	O. liassicum	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH 59132	Ommatid beetle, genus extant
Orthophlebia	O. capillata	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53924, an exoskeleton (wings & thorax)	Orthophlebiid scorpionfly
Orichalcum	O. ornatum	Flatstones, Birchi Nodules	Shales with Beef	BMNH In 53983	Triassomanteidae grasshopper
Paraprosbole	P. rotruda	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59374, 48162, 64395	Tettigarctid cicada
Propreocoris	P. maculatus	Woodstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59152	Stem-group to Ochteridae and Gelastocoridae
Protogryllus	P. (Archaegryllodes) magnus	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 44003, 51016, 51022, 59373	Protogryllidae cricket
Protohagla	P. langi	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 59018	Haglid cricket
Protomyrmeleon	P. cf. brunonis	Charmouth burden pile	Black Ven Marl Member	AR 428	Protomyrmeleontidae winged insect
Protorthophlebia	P. latipennis	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49575, 53954, 53963, 59120, 59365, 59371, 59384	Protorthophlebiid scorpionfly
Priscaenigma	P. obtusa	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53898	Snakefly
Pseudopolycentropus	P. triangularis	Woodstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53915	Pseudopolycentropodid scorpionfly
Pterocimex	P. jacksoni	Woodstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH in 53909, 49589, 51048, 59359	Nepomorphan
Regiata	R. scutra	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 64027	Regiatid orthopteran
Rhipidoblattina	R. ssp.	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 49212, 49249, 53909, 53920	Caloblattinidae cockroach
Rossiphlebia	R. jacksoni	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	NHMUK In.53999, part and counterpart of a partial hindwing	Liassophlebiid damsel-dragonfly
Tarsabedus	T. menkei	0.6 km east Charmouth	Black Ven Marl Member	BRSMG Cc 688	Belostomatidae giant water bug
Tersus	T. crowsoni	Flatstones	Black Ven Marl Member	BMNH In 53949, 59038	Schizophorid beetle

Plants

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Ctenozamites[48]	C. cycadea	Lyme regis Charmouth	Isolated shoots	A "Seed Fern" of the group with Corystospermales
Cycadites	C. rectangularis	Lyme regis	Isolated shoots	A possible Cycadophyte leaf, related with Cycadales. Alternatively, it can be of Bennettite origin
Cycadeoidea	C. gracilis	Lyme regis	Stems	Bennettite Trunks of the family Cycadeoidaceae
Cycadopteris	C. jurensis	Lyme regis	Isolated shoots	A "Seed Fern" of the group with Corystospermales
Otozamites	O. obtusus	Lyme regis Charmouth Seatown	Isolated shoots	Bennettite leafs of the family Williamsoniaceae
Pagiophyllum[49]	P. peregrinum P. sewardii	Lyme regis Charmouth Seatown Wear Cliffs	Isolated shoots	Conifer shoots of the family Hirmeriellaceae or Araucariaceae

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Charmouth Mudstone Formation . British Geological Survey . British Geological Survey . BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units . 2018-03-08.
2. Book: Gallois, R.W.. The lithostratigraphy of the Shales-with-Beef Member of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Lower Jurassic. 2008. Ussher Society. 703253954.
3. Web site: Black Ven Marl Member. The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units. British Geological Survey.
4. Web site: Belemnite Marl Member. The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units. British Geological Survey.
5. Web site: Green Ammonite Member. The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units. British Geological Survey.
6. Owen . 1865 . Monograph of the Fossil Reptilia of the Liassic Formations. Part First. Sauropterygia . Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society . 17 . 75 . 1–40 . 10.1080/02693445.1865.12027939 . 1865MPalS..17....1O . 0269-3445.
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 . 10.1144/gsl.jgs.1881.037.01-04.42 . 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.
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 . 10.1144/transgslb.1.2.381 . 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. 10.1127/pala/308/2017/89. 2017PalAA.308...89S . 0375-0442.
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.. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. en. 35. 2. e903260. 10.1080/02724634.2014.903260. 2015JVPal..35E3260L . 85745787. 0272-4634.
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. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. en. 123. 1. 146–154. 10.1016/j.pgeola.2011.07.001. 2012PrGA..123..146B .
13. McGowan. Christopher. Milner. Angela C.. October 1999. A new Pliensbachian ichthyosaur from Dorset, England. Palaeontology. en. 42. 5. 761–768. 10.1111/1475-4983.00096. 0031-0239. free. 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. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. en. 129. 6. 770–773. 10.1016/j.pgeola.2018.07.005. 2018PrGA..129..770L . 134397018 .
15. Web site: PBDB.
16. Web site: Young . Mark T . Dufeau . David . Bowman . Charlotte . Cowgill . Thomas . Schwab . Julia A . Witmer . Lawrence M . Herrera . Yanina . Katsamenis . Orestis L . Steel . Lorna . 2024 . Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs from the Sinemurian (Early Jurassic) of the UK . 2024-07-15 . academic.oup.com . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
17. 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 . 10.1080/02724634.2022.2161909 . 256149424 .
18. 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 . 10.1080/02693445.2021.2037868 . 2021MPalS.175....1S . 0269-3445.
19. Unwin . David M. . 2003 . On the phylogeny and evolutionary history of pterosaurs . Geological Society, London, Special Publications . 217 . 1 . 139–190 . 10.1144/gsl.sp.2003.217.01.11 . 2003GSLSP.217..139U . 0305-8719.
20. 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 . 10.1666/0094-8373-35.3.432 . 2009Pbio...35..432B . 0094-8373.
21. 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.
22. Book: Lydekker, Richard . Catalogue of the fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum (Natural history) ... By Richard Lydekker ... . 1888 . Printed by order of the Trustees . London. 10.5962/bhl.title.61848 .
23. 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 . 10.1127/njgpm/2004/2004/537 . 0028-3630.
24. Web site: Mortimer . Mickey . 2012-11-24 . The Theropod Database Blog: "New" name for Megalosaurus? lydekkeri . 2024-04-29 . The Theropod Database Blog.
25. Baron . Matthew G. . 2024-04-29 . A new name for old bones: A reassessment of Early Jurassic theropod remains from Dorset, England . Palaeontologia Electronica . English . 27 . 1 . 1–12 . 10.26879/1346 . 1094-8074. free .
26. 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 . 10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.08.003 . 2020PrGA..131..751C . 0016-7878.
27. 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 . 10.1111/1755-6724.12004 . 1000-9515.
28. 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 . 10.1080/14772011003603515 . 2010JSPal...8..131B . 1477-2019.
29. Web site: Mortimer . Mickey . 2010-04-17 . The Theropod Database Blog: Pickering's taxa 4: Merosaurus newmani . 2024-04-29 . The Theropod Database Blog.
30. 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 . 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz074 . 0024-4082.
31. 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 . 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz078 . 0024-4082.
32. Web site: Flatstones, Charmouth (Jackson collection) (Jurassic of the United Kingdom). 17 December 2021. fossilworks.org.
33. Web site: Flatstones, Stonebarrow, Charmouth (Jackson collection) (Jurassic of the United Kingdom). 17 December 2021. fossilworks.org.
34. Web site: Flatstones, Black Ven, Charmouth (Jackson collection). 2020-08-26. Paleobiology Database.
35. Web site: Woodstones, Black Ven, Charmouth (Jackson collection). 2020-08-26. Paleobiology Database.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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 . 10.1155/2018/6706120 . free . 0033-2615. 1983/06ae01fb-06bc-41d0-bcbd-f7519cb07df6 . free .
39. 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 . 10.1016/j.pgeola.2017.05.009 . 2017PrGA..128..659T . 0016-7878. 1983/f54090ef-e495-4f35-a375-b845583021e3 . free .
40. 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 . 10.1017/s1755691017000329 . 2016EESTR.107..129K . 1755-6910. 1983/d363e702-e4cb-4285-8ee8-393e808c890e . free .
41. 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 . 10.5048/bio-c.2018.1 . 2151-7444.
42. 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 . 10.11646/palaeoentomology.6.2.11 . 2624-2834.
43. 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 . 10.1080/14772019.2016.1139007 . 2016JSPal..14.1025S . 1477-2019.
44. 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 .
45. 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 . 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00231.x . 2010AcGlS..84..693E . 1000-9515.
46. 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 . 10.11646/zootaxa.3857.1.6 . 25283100 . 1175-5334.
47. Ansorge . J. . Krzemiński . W. . 1994 . Oligophrynidae, a Lower Jurassic dipteran family (Diptera, Brachycera). . Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia . 37 . 2 . 115–119.
48. 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 . 10.1016/s0016-7878(08)80258-1 . 2008PrGA..119...59V . 0016-7878.
49. 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 . 10.1086/332400 . 0006-8071.