Reptiles
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After the bony fish, reptiles are the most common vertebrates to be found on Sheppey. In particular turtles, fragments of which are quite commonly found. Complete specimens of either the skull or the shell are extremely rare. Crocodiles are the most uncommon. Only two complete skulls have been found in the past six years. Both are figured here, and the diplocynodon is a new species for Sheppey. Snake vertebra are usually found singly in the pyrite accumulations. Rarely articulated vertebra are found in phosphatic nodules. The nodule showing the snake skull is the only known example. | |||||
Turtles
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Argillochelys
antiqua (Koenig)
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Argillochelys
cuneiceps (Owen)
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Puppigerus
camperi (gray)
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Puppigerus
crassicostatus (Owen)
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Trionyx
sp. (Moody)
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The specimens shown on these pages represent the best that can be expected to be found on Sheppey. Usually found as fragments, turtle fossils are quite common, however the fossils shown here are unique in their preservation. | |||||
Crocodiles
& Snake
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Crocodilus
spenceri (Buckland)
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Palaeophis
toliapicus(Owen)
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Lizard
cranium |
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Individual
vertebra and scutes of crocodiles are found periodically in the pyrite
accumulations or loose on the foreshore. Complete specimens are very
rare, only two complete skulls have been found in recent years. C. spenceri
was found by two different collectors days apart, on the foreshore separated
by the force of a storm. The Diplocynodon was found with the best part
of the bones loose in the clay around a cement stone containing the
skull. Tropical sea snake vertebra can be found in the pyrite accumulations
on the beach. Occasionally phosphatic nodules containing rows of articulated
vertebra can be found.
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