Gigantic marine reptile identified from fossil found by 11-year-old girl

June 6, 2024 5:07 PM

Gigantic marine reptile identified from fossil found by 11-year-old girl and father. A fossil jawbone found by a young girl and her father on a beach in England belongs to a gigantic marine reptile dating back to 202 million years ago.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (10 comments total)

Was there a photo? If I find one, how will I identify it if they don't put a photo.
Also, whoa.
posted by Glinn at 7:05 PM on June 6, 2024

There once was a young girl who saw
Half buried, half broken, a jaw.
‘It’s easy, now try,
‘To do science by eye,
‘Draw the rest of the ichthyosaur’
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 7:32 PM on June 6, 2024 [9 favorites]

202 million years, so then we're sure they didn't kill it, right?
posted by evilDoug at 7:49 PM on June 6, 2024

she brought it home, can she keep it?
posted by not_on_display at 8:59 PM on June 6, 2024 [2 favorites]

In loosely related, there's a fun film (on Netflix): Ammonite.
posted by ovvl at 10:14 PM on June 6, 2024 [1 favorite]

There are some pictures of Ruby and her find here.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:03 PM on June 6, 2024 [4 favorites]

202 million years, so then we're sure they didn't kill it, right?

You're going to have to explain that joke to me, I'm afraid.
posted by ambrosen at 3:57 AM on June 7, 2024

how psyched is this girl??? what an amazing experience to have at that age. maybe they'll name it after her!
posted by supermedusa at 10:21 AM on June 7, 2024 [2 favorites]

Don't be afraid ambrosen, it can't hurt you.
posted by evilDoug at 5:24 PM on June 7, 2024 [1 favorite]

I'll need you to explain your behaviour and your joke, in that case.
posted by ambrosen at 5:33 PM on June 7, 2024