By Isle of Wight Observer
A new species of large ammonite from the Lower Greensand rocks of Whale Chine has been described for the first time in 46 years.
The species, named Australiceras simpsoni, has been described this week in the geology journal Cretaceous Research.
It has been named after its finder, Martin Simpson, described by the authors as the “fossil hunter extraordinaire from Chale.”
The ammonite is also the first of its kind of open-coiled heteromorph to be found from the Boreal, or Northern, Realm, with other examples previously known only from Australia.
The specimen was found in 1987, and is now held in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London. The paper naming the species is available to read free on-line.
Martin, known as the Island’s fossil man, 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.
“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.
“The only downside 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.”
Mal Butler