Fiann Smithwick

Fiann Smithwick Instagram – Holding hands with an animal that died almost 200 million years ago. This is an ichthyosaur (marine reptile) paddle I found on the Jurassic Coast. Although we call them paddles locally, it’s a misnomer as ichthyosaurs didn’t use them to swim. Instead, they beat their tail side to side to propel themselves forwards while these front limbs kept the animal stable in the water and helped them steer.
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When I found this fossil, the bones were all loose in the rock. So I had to piece them back together into their original arrangement. Which took some time!
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#fossil #fossils #art #geology #palaeontology #paleontology #paleo #curiosity #ancient #history #collect #collection #animal #animals #evolution #science #museum #jewel #collecting #treasure #paddle #jaws #marine #reptile #rare #dinosaur #age #dinosaurs #ichthyosaur #bones | Posted on 31/May/2022 23:27:10