NEOVENATOR Possibly the UK's biggest killer dinosaur. It once roamed the areas of Southern England around 120 million years ago, preying on the herds of Iguanodon and also, I would imagine, the numerous long necked sauropods that were around at this time.
EDIACARAN FOSSILSReplica Charnia
Information
ORIGIN:
Charnia Masoni:Charnia was a frond like lifeform from the Ediacaran period (635 to 541 million years ago). The genus Charnia was named after the first fossil of it's kind being found in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, UK in the late 1950's. The significance of this specimen was that it was the first recorded fossil recognised within Pre Cambrian rocks. Initially thought to be a photosynthetic plant, this as later rejected as it lived in deeper waters, outside the reach of sunlight. Their classification is still a matter of debate having been classed as a type of algae, sea pen (type of soft coral) and now believed to have come from a now extinct form of life. A very interesting fossil type showing fractal growth. Scientific classification:
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Petalonamae
Family:
Charniidae
Genus:
Charnia Ford, 1958
Species:
C. masoni
SIZE:
REPLICA : The delicate structure to this ancient fossil can be seen here. The length of the specimen (inclusive of the rock matrix) is aprox 21 cm x 11 cm.
DETAIL: This example shows one of the holdfast structures, which were disc shaped, and represented the anchor point the stem like body had with the sandy sea floor. Please also see the other items that I have recently listed. Thanks!