A new species of large ammonite discovered in the cliffs at Whale Chine has been formally identified, marking the first new species of its kind from the site to be discovered in 46 years.
The discovery has been detailed this week in the scientific journal ‘Cretaceous Research’, with researchers naming the fossil Australiceras simpsoni in honour of Chale-based fossil collector, Martin Simpson, who found the specimen in 1987.
The authors described Mr Simpson as a “fossil hunter extraordinaire from Chale”.
The fossil, discovered within the Lower Greensand rocks of Whale Chine, is also the first open-coiled heteromorph ammonite of its type to be found in the Boreal, or Northern, Realm, with the only similar examples having been recorded in Australia.
The specimen is now housed within the collections of the Natural History Museum in London, with the paper describing the new species available to read online free of charge.
Martin Simpson, known to many as the Isle of Wight’s ‘fossil man’, has said:
“The moral of this story is to not collect only complete ammonites, but to save the partials as well, because the bits may belong to something rare.
Article continues below this advertisement “It’s a real honour as a collector to have a species named after you, and it’s a great way to encourage private collectors to donate scientifically rare fossils to museums.”
Mr Simpson also highlighted concerns over access to Whale Chine, which he described as one of the most important fossil sites in the world.
He has said:
“The only down side is that Whale Chine, one of the most important fossil sites in the world, has been inaccessible for years despite being the gateway to the Island’s Cretaceous Coast.
“This is a shame when you look at the huge rise in geotourism in places like Lyme Regis in Dorset.”
Whale Chine, on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight, is internationally recognised for its rich Cretaceous fossil deposits and has long attracted collectors and researchers from around the world.
