Knowra Mary Anning Mary Anning Mary Anning (1799–1847) was an English fossil collector whose discoveries of Jurassic marine reptiles and other fossils transformed knowledge of prehistoric life.
Ichthyosaur : An extinct marine reptile with a fish-shaped body, flippers, and large eyes. Anning helped uncover the first widely studied ichthyosaur skeleton, found near Lyme Regis.
Fossil collecting : The locating and recovery of preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms. Anning’s livelihood and scientific work began with searching the shore for exposed fossils.
Georgian era : The period of British history spanning the reigns of George I through George IV, from 1714 to 1830. Anning began collecting during a period when geology and natural history were rapidly changing.
Extinction : The permanent disappearance of a species or other biological group. Her marine reptiles provided vivid evidence that entire kinds of animals had vanished.
Plesiosaur : An extinct marine reptile distinguished by a broad body, four flippers, and usually a long neck. Her 1823 discovery of a nearly complete skeleton brought this striking reptile to scientific attention.
Landslide : The movement of rock, soil, or debris down a slope under gravity. Cliff collapses exposed fossils at Lyme Regis, while also making collecting dangerous.
Dorset : A county in southwest England with a coastline rich in Mesozoic fossils. Anning’s discoveries grew from the geology and coastal communities of her home county.
Paleontology : The scientific study of ancient life through fossils and their geological context. Anning’s discoveries helped establish fossils as evidence for reconstructing prehistoric organisms.
Pterosaur : An extinct group of flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era. Anning discovered the first pterosaur fossil found outside Germany, later named Dimorphodon.
Fossil preparation : The cleaning, stabilizing, and exposing of fossils for study or display. Anning painstakingly prepared specimens so their anatomy could be examined.
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