The first definitive occurrence of Ichthyosaurus and Temnodontosaurus (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) in Nottinghamshire, England and a review of ichthyosaur specimens from the county

Abstract

The occurrence of ichthyosaurs from Nottinghamshire is poorly documented. Here, we report on at least 67 specimens from museum and university collections. The specimens range from isolated elements to nearly complete skeletons. Preservation varies, but some are three-dimensional. The identification of both Ichthyosaurus and Temnodontosaurus in the county adds additional localities for the occurrence of those genera. Nottinghamshire is one of only a few counties to have yielded a fairly substantial number of ichthyosaur specimens. They are from localities in the Upper Triassic (Penarth Group) and Lower Jurassic (Lower Lias Group) that can no longer be accessed.