Abstract
The remains of between six and eight ichthyosaur embryos, still situated within a fragment of the rib-cage of the parent animal, are described. Each is represented by a string of vertebral centra, some with associated ribs. Other skeletal elements, including possible skull material, are represented only by isolated bones, none identifiable with certainty. The small limestone boulder in which the ichthyosaur specimens are preserved was collected from the beach at Sandsend, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, and derives from the Whitby Mudstone Formation (Hildoceras bifrons Ammonite Biozone) of the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassic. The specimen cannot be identified beyond Ichthyosauria indet. However, it represents the geologically-youngest occurrence of ichthyosaur embryos thus far recorded from the UK and the first such occurrence to be reported from Yorkshire.
Correction notice: After the online publication of this paper, it came to light that the original collector of the specimen was Mr Mark Hawkes of Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire. The location of discovery has been updated to Sandsend (to the north of Whitby) rather than Saltwick Bay, which lies immediately south of the town. The year that the specimen was collected has been updated to 2013. This minor revision of the find locality makes no difference to the stratigraphic data relating to the specimen.
- © 2018 The Author(s)