Ichthyosaur Fossil Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.

This outstanding fossilised skeleton is that of the ancestral crocodile species Steneosaurus bollensis that lived during the early Jurassic period. The skeleton, complete with armoured plates, has been exquisitely preserved and recovered from the Holzmaden Oil Shale of south Germany. The crocodile was once buried in fine, muddy sediment 195 million years ago at the bottom of the Tethys Ocean, which once existed between Europe and Africa. The calm, deep water provided a rare anoxic (without oxygen) environment, which prevented the skeleton from any significant decomposition before burial. The mud has since been compressed into oil shale, leaving the immense skeleton completely in-tact. This specimen is one of the few skeletons of Steneosaurus bollensis ever to be discovered. We can deduce much about the life of this reptile from the size and perfect preservation of the piece. Similar to present-day crocodiles, we can see that the two front limbs of the Steneosaurus are much shorter than the back two. This indicates that crocodile ancestors were bipedal; indeed, we believe that crocodiles evolved from the same reptile species as the dinosaurs and airborne pterosaurs. Dinosaurs ruled the lands during the late Triassic and early Jurassic. This made terrestrial life increasingly difficult for ancestral crocodiles, as there were many predators and prey was scarce. However, the seas were rich in fish, shellfish, starfish, crabs, squid… You can even see fossil belemnite guards (bullet shells of squid-like organisms) and the beautiful spiral shells of ammonites preserved around the crocodile skeleton...

An exceptional fossilized dragonfly from Solnhofen in Germany. This wonderful specimen dates 150 Million Years old making it the ultimate conversatio...

About Dale Rogers. Since 1986 Dale has been sourcing the most unique fossils and minerals from around the world and through his company Dale Rogers Ammonite...

United Kingdom Ammonite plate.   

Ammonites are perhaps the most widely known fossil. These creatures lived in the seas between 240 - 65 million years ago, when they became extinct along with the dinosaurs. This lar...

Exceptional mounted Quartz slice from Brazil. Mounted on a handmade steel base the piece can also be easily removed for use on other projects such as table furniture or wall mounting.

Original American film poster for the 1966 adventure fantasy film staring Raquel Welch. This film was directed by Don Chaffey. This poster is conservation linen backed and it would b...

A Pair Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques Germany 1960s A set of two vintage Black Forest chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on carved wooden plaques with brown and gree...

Victorian Taxidermy Diorama with Partridge, Germany ca. 1900 An antique diorama with a taxidermied partridge (Perdix perdix) sitting in a handpainted landscape. Mounted in an eboniz...

X-Large Mid-Century Modern walnut & brass crucifix, 1950s Germany. Super elegant, very puristic and imposing.

Large wild boar trophy on wooden plaque, Germany 1950s. A large vintage black forest wild boar (Sus scrofa) trophy on an ebonized nutwood plaqu...

Vintage Wild Boar Teeth Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1970s A vintage Black Forest wild boar (Sus scrofa) teeth trophy on wooden plaque. T...