Carine Plissart uncovers the fossil on the beach. Credit: Michel Plissart
It was a fearsome marine reptile that dominated the oceans roughly 175 million years ago at the very end of the Jurassic Period. While smaller ichthyosaurs typically hunted fish and squid, larger apex predators like this specimen actively preyed upon other marine reptiles.
Belgian visitors Michel and Carine Plissart have been searching the coast here for fossils for the last 35 years. They stumbled upon the dark shapes embedded in a sandstone bed while exploring a local beach.
“We knew we had found something of immense scientific interest, so we contacted the Charmouth Fossil Centre immediately,” said Michel Plissart.
Following the discovery, the landowner generously gifted the specimen to Bridport Museum. A subsequent grant enabled the fossil to be prepared so that a formal scientific study of it could be made by experts at Bristol University. Their paper on the find is currently out for peer review.
They found that the “Bridport Ichthyosaur” is globally significant because of its age. The specimen was discovered in the Bridport Sand Formation – a rock layer where no ichthyosaur had ever been found before. Its ancesters had survived a mass extinction event 9 million years earlier.
Palaeontologist Sam Scriven, Principal World Heritage Officer, led the excavation of the fossil. He explains: “Apart from its great size, the Bridport ichthyosaur is highly unusual because it lived nine million years after massive volcanic eruptions depleted oxygen levels in the world’s oceans, causing mass extinctions. Its very existence proves that the impact of this ancient environmental crisis on top marine predators is still not fully understood.”
The museum exhibition runs until April 2027. Visitors can expect an immersive experience, including a film of the fossil’s story, a Virtual Reality (VR) experience, and a series of expert talks throughout the winter.
Michelle Caesar, Bridport Museum Manager, said: “We are so lucky to have been given this incredibly generous gift, and hope our exhibition will inspire local residents and tourists alike about our region’s world-class fossil history. From young children to dedicated enthusiasts, this display will offer something truly spectacular for everyone.”
Exhibition Dates: 24 October 2026 – 17 April 2027.
Location: Bridport Museum, South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NR
