Paleobiota of the London Clay Last updated August 25, 2025
Fossil seed capsules of the genus Euphorbia , found in London Clay A list of prehistoric and extant species whose fossils have been found in the London Clay , which underlies large areas of southeast England.
Plant fossils, especially seeds and fruits, are found in abundance and have been collected from the London Clay for almost 300 years. [ 1] Some 350 named species of plant have been found, making the London Clay flora one of the world's most diverse for fossil seeds and fruits. [ 2] The flora includes plant types found today in tropical forests of Asia and demonstrates the much warmer climate of the Eocene epoch , with plants such as Nypa (Nipah palms) and other palms being frequently encountered. The following plants list is incomplete and is based on the research by Marjorie Chandler . [ 1] and research works done by the paleobotanist Steven R. Manchester [ 3] and by professor of plant palaeobiology Margaret Collinson. [ 4]
Plants Gymnosperms Agathis sp. - similar to Agathis dammara † Araucarites spp. †Doliostrobus stenbergi - fossils in the past named †Araucarites are said to be of this genus, it is now placed in its own family, †Doliostrobaceae. Animals Animal fossils include bivalves , gastropods , nautilus , worm tubes, brittle stars and starfish , crabs , lobsters , fish (including shark and ray teeth), reptiles (particularly turtles ), and a large diversity of birds . A few mammal remains have also been recorded. Preservation varies; articulated skeletons are generally rare. Of fish, isolated teeth are very frequent. Bird bones are not infrequently encountered compared to other lagerstätten , but usually occur as single bones and are often broken.
The following fauna species list follows Clouter (2007). [ 7]
Vertebrates Reptiles Crocodylians
Snakes
Turtles and tortoises
Turtle fossils from Sheppey Bony fish Acestrus elongatus , A. ornatus , Aglyptorhynchus sulcatus , A. venablasi , Xiphiorhynchus parvus and X priscus – swordfish relatives Acipenser toliapicus – a true sturgeon Albula oweni – a bonefish Ampheristus toliapicus – a scorpionfish Ardiodus marriotti – incertae sedis Argillichthys toombsi – a lizardfish relative Aulopopsis depressifrons , A. egertoni and Labrophagus esocinus – flagfins Beerichthys ingens and B. sp. – Two species of luvar or luvar-like fish [ 8] Bramoides brieni and Goniocranion arambourgi – pomfrets Brychaetus muelleri – an arowana Bucklandium diluvii – a naked catfish Cylindracanthus rectus and Hemirhabdorhynchus elliotti – Blochiidae Cymbium proosti , Eocoelopoma colei , E. curvatum , E. gigas , E. hopwoodi , Eothynnus salmoneus , Scombramphodon crassidens , S. sheppeyensis , Scombrinus macropomus , S. nuchalis , Sphyraenodus priscus , Tamesichthys decipiens , Wetherellus brevior , W. cristatus , W. longior and Woodwardella patellifrons – mackerel and tuna relatives Diodon sp. – a porcupinefish Egertonia isodonta and Phyllodus toliapicus – Phyllodontidae Elops sp., Esocelops cavifrons , Megalops oblongus , M. priscus , Promegalops sheppeyensis and P. signeuxae – ladyfish Enniskillenus radiatus – acanthomorph Eutrichurides winkleri – a cutlassfish Halecopsis insignis – Halecopsidae Laparon alticeps – spadefish Lehmanamia sheppeyensis – a bowfin Myripristis toliapicus , Naupygus bucklandi and Paraberyx bowerbanki – soldierfish Percostoma angustum , Plesioserranus cf. wemmeliensi and Serranopsis londinensis – groupers Podocephalus curryi , P. nitidus , Sciaenuropsis turneri and Sciaenurus bowerbanki – porgies Progempylus edwardsi – a snake mackerel Pseudosphaerodon antiquus and P. navicularis – wrasses ? Pycnodus bowerbanki and P. toliapicus – Pychnodontidae Rhinocephalus planiceps and Trichurides sagittidens – hakes Rhynchorhinus branchialis and R. major – Eccelidae Tetratichthys antiquitatis – a jack mackerel Whitephippus tamensis – a lampriform [ 9] Cartilaginous fish Abdounia beaugi , Carcharhinus sp. [ Note 2] and Physogaleus secundus [ Note 3] – requiem sharks Aetobatis irregularis , Burnhamia daviesi , [ Note 4] Myliobatis dixoni , M. latidens , M. raouxi and M. toliapicus – eagle rays Anomotodon sheppeyensis – a goblin shark Carcharias hopei , [ Note 5] Jaekelotodus trigonalis , Odontaspis winkleri , Palaeohypotodus rutoti and Striatolamia macrota [ Note 6] – sand sharks Edaphodon bucklandi and Elasmodus hunteri – chimaeras Dasyatis davisi and D. wochadunensis – stingrays Galeorhinus lefevrei , G. minor , G. recticonus , G. ypresiensis , Mustelus whitei and Triakis wardi – hound sharks Heterodontus vincenti , H. wardenensis and H. woodwardi – bullhead sharks Hexanchus agassizi , H. collinsonae , H. hookeri , Notorhynchus serratissimus and Weltonia burnhamensis – cow sharks Isisteus trituratus and Squalus minor [ Note 7] – dogfish sharks Isurolamna affinis , Isurus nova , I. praecursor , Lamna inflata , L. lerichei , Otodus obliquus , O. aksuaticus Xiphodolamia eocaena [ Note 8] – white sharks Megascyliorhinus cooperi , Scyliorhinus casieri , S. gilberti , S. pattersoni and S. woodwardi – catsharks Pararhincodon sp? – an indeterminate shark Raja sp.? – an indeterminate ray Squatina prima – an angel shark Crustaceans Exuvia of Hoploparia Molluscs Gastropods Acrilla cymaea , Foratiscala perforata , Litoriniscala scalaroides and Undiscala primaeva [ Note 21] – wentletraps Aporrhais sowerbii [ Note 22] and Eotibia lucida [ Note 23] – true conchs Bathytoma granata , B. turbida , Clavatula conica , [ Note 24] Cochlespira gyrata , Conolithus concinnus , [ Note 25] Endiatoma cerithiformis , Fusiturris selysi , [ Note 26] F. simillima , F. wetherelli , [ Note 27] Gemmula koninckii , [ Note 28] Hemipleurotoma fasciolata , H. prestwichi , Pseudotoma topleyi , Surculites errans , [ Note 29] S. velatus , Turricula crassa , T. helix , T. latimarginata , [ Note 30] T. nanodis , [ Note 31] T. symmetrica and T. teretrium – Conoidea Bonellitia clathratum and B. laeviuscula – nutmeg shells Bullinella sp., Crenilabium elongatum , ? Roxiana sp., Scaphander ?parisiensis and Tornatellaea simulata – opisthobranchs Camptoceratops prisca , Spiratella mercinensis , S. taylori and S. tutelina – sea-butterflies Cassis striata and Mambrina gallica [ Note 32] – tun shells Cepatia cepacea , Daphnobela juncea , Litiopa sulculosa , Orthochetus elongatus [ Note 33] and Stellaxis pulcher [ Note 34] – incertae sedis Eocypraea oviformis – a cowrie Euspira glaucinoides [ Note 35] and Sinum clathratum – moon snails Falsifusus londini , [ Note 36] Fusinus coniferus , F. wetherelli , Pseudoneptunea curta , [ Note 37] Siphonalia highgatensis , Streptolathyrus triliniatus , S. zonulatus , Wrigleya complanata [ Note 38] and W. transversaria [ Note 39] – true whelks Ficopsis multiformis [ Note 40] – a fig shell Lacunella sp. – a periwinkle Mathilda sororcula – Mathildidae Murex subcristatus and Paziella argillacea [ Note 41] – murex snails Pachysyrnola sp. and Turbonilla subterranea [ Note 42] – pyramid shells Patella sp. – Patellidae Ptychatractus aff. interuptus , Scaphella wetherelli [ Note 43] and Volutospina nodosa – volutes Rilla cf. tenuistriata – Streptaxidae Ringicula turgida – Ringiculidae Sassia morrisi – a triton shell Sigapatella sp. [ Note 44] – Calyptraeidae Tornus sp. [ Note 45] and Turboella cf. misera – Rissoidae Xenophora extensum [ Note 46] – a carrier shell Echinoderms Ophiura wetherelli from the London Clay of Bognor Regis Other invertebrates Adenellopsis wetherelli , Aimulosia sp., Batopora clithridiata , Beisselina sp., Cribrilina sp., Didymosella sp., Dittosaria wetherelli , Entalophora sp., Idmonia sp., Lunulites sp., Nellia sp., Pachythecella incisa , Vibracellina sp. and Websteria crissioides – bryozoans Hemiptera gen. et sp. indet. – true bug Lingula tenuis , Terebratulina striatula and T. wardenensis – lampshells Stelleta sp. – sponge Notes ↑ Includes "Primobucco" olsoni ↑ Sometimes placed in Aprionodon ↑ Sometimes placed in Physodon ↑ Sometimes placed in Rhinoptera ↑ Sometimes called Hypotodus robustus ↑ Sometimes called Eugomphodus macrotus ↑ Sometimes placed in Acanthius ↑ Sometimes placed in Xendolamia ↑ Sometimes called Necrozius bowerbanki ↑ Sometimes placed in Eutrephoceras ↑ Sometimes called Modiolus depressus ↑ Sometimes placed in Striarca ↑ Sometimes placed in Cyprina ↑ Sometimes called A. rugatus ↑ Sometimes called Pitaria tenuistriata ↑ Sometimes placed in Ledina ↑ Sometimes called Amussium corneum ↑ Sometimes placed in Protocardium ↑ Sometimes placed in Pteria ↑ Sometimes placed in Ostrea ↑ Sometimes considered a variety of Scala undosa ↑ Sometimes called A. sowerbyii ↑ Sometimes placed in Tibia ↑ Sometimes in Hemipleurotoma ↑ Sometimes placed in Conospirus ↑ Sometimes in Hemipleurotoma ↑ Sometimes in Hemipleurotoma ↑ Sometimes in Hemipleurotoma ↑ Sometimes S. bifaci or S. bifacsi ↑ Sometimes included in T. teretrium ↑ Sometimes included in T. teretrium ↑ Sometimes placed in Galeodea ↑ Sometimes called Newtoniella charlsworthi ↑ Sometimes called Solarium pulchrum ↑ Sometimes placed in Natica ↑ Sometimes called Fusinus unicarinatus ↑ Sometimes placed in Bartonia ↑ Sometimes called Euthriofusus complanatus ↑ Sometimes called Euthriofusus transversarius ↑ Sometimes placed in Ficus ↑ Sometimes called Murex argillaceus ↑ Sometimes called T. tenuiplica [ citation needed ] ↑ Sometimes placed in Aurinia ↑ Sometimes placed in Calyptraea ↑ Sometimes placed in Adeorbis ↑ Sometimes called Onutusus extensa ↑ Sometimes placed in Asteropecten ↑ Sometimes placed in Rhizochrinus References 1 2 Chandler, M.E.J. 1961. The lower Tertiary floras of southern England I. Palaeocene floras, London Clay flora. London: British Museum (Natural History). ↑ Collinson, M. (1983). Fossil plants of the London Clay . The Palaeontological Association. ↑ "Steven R Manchester - Publications" . ResearchGate . ↑ "Margaret Collinson - Publications - Research - Royal Holloway, University of London" . pure.royalholloway.ac.uk . ↑ "Sequoiadendron fordi" . PBDB.org . ↑ Poole, I., K.L. Davies and H.P. Wilkinson 2002. A review of the platanaceous woods from the Eocene paratropical rainforest of southeast England. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 139: 181–191. ↑ Clouter, Fred (June 29, 2007). "London Clay Species List" . Retrieved June 16, 2008 . ↑ Alexandre F. Bannikov & James C. Tyler (1995). "Phylogenetic revision of the fish families Luvaridae and †Kushlukiidae (Acanthuroidei), with a new genus and two new species of Eocene luvarids" (PDF) . Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology . 81 (81): 1– 45. doi :10.5479/si.00810266.81.1 . ↑ Davesne, D.; Andrews, J. V.; Beckett, H. T.; Giles, S.; Friedman, M. (2024). "Three-dimensional anatomy of the early Eocene Whitephippus (Teleostei, Lampriformes) documents parallel conquests of the pelagic environment by multiple teleost lineages" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 43 (3). e2284998. doi :10.1080/02724634.2023.2284998 . ↑ W. J Quayle (1987). "English Eocene Crustacea (lobsters and stomatopod)" (PDF) . Palaeontology . 30 (3): 581– 612. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. This page is based on this
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