Natural History - Hollardops Fossil Trilobite

Displaying serrations and polished enamel, from the Carcharocles megalodon shark. 238 grams, 10.5 cm



Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Carcharodon megalodon is regarded as one of the largest and most powerful marine predators in vertebrate history and likely had a profound impact on structuring of the marine communities. Fossil remains indicate that this giant shark reached a length of more than 16 metres (52 ft) and also affirm that it had a cosmopolitan distribution. Scientists suggest that C. megalodon in life looked like a stockier version of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias.

Comprising three Douvilleiceras sp. ammonites (sometimes known as a Goat Horn). 123 grams total, 45-48 mm



From the north-east coast of Madagascar. Acquired 1950s-1960s. From an old Bristol, UK, palaeontological collection.

The rectangular matrix containing four Knightia alta sp. fish. 955 grams, 24.2 cm



From the Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA. Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

In southwest Wyoming (and parts of Colorado and Utah) in the Green River Formation are found some of the world's most outstanding specimens of fossil fish. The Green River system was composed of three lakes: Lake Ulinta, Lake Gosiute and Fossil Lake. These Eocene lakes lay in a series of intermountain basins formed by geological events that uplifted the Rocky Mountains during the early Tertiary time. The climate was much different from the desert-like climate of this area today. Both the fauna (crocodiles, alligators, boa constrictors and some subtropical fish families) and the flora (such as large palm trees) indicate a climate much like that found along the Gulf Coast today. Large amounts of ash found in the sediments indicate that volcanoes were particularly active at this time.