Wisbech and Fenland Specimens

Wisbech and Fenland Museum was first opened in 1847 in its present form.  It is amongst the oldest purpose built museums in the UK and the character of its galleries are typically Victorian in essence.  However, the museum functions as a sophisticated modern organisation in all other respects.  This is a museum not to be missed if you are within travelling distance.

Behind the scenes there are a few fragmentary pterosaur bones within the collections.  They are not remarkable, but such fragments should not be forgotten as they may help shed light on other specimens, as yet unknown.

This pelvic bone fragment has only its original label for information.  It is most likely from a large Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic age.

Here is a bone that has its extremities missing.  Such specimens are very difficult to identify beyond the anatomical position of the bone on a skeleton.

Here is a more complete and much more finely preserved bone which shows some similarity with Dsungeripterid pterosaur bones.  More work is needed here.

J317-Pterodactylus longicollum  Wing metacarpal (right)
J319a-Rhamphorhynchoid sp  Wing metacarpal (proximal)  
       about 50% of length of bone, Stonesfield Slate 
J319b-Rhamphorhynchoid sp  Wing metacarpal 
       (shaft fragment), Stonesfield Slate
J320-Rhamphorhynchus sp  Humerus (left, dorsal aspect),
       Stonesfield Slate
J321a-Rhamphorhynchoid sp  Tooth, Stonesfield Slate
J321b-Rhamphorhynchoid sp  Tooth, Stonesfield Slate
J321c-Rhamphorhynchoid sp  Scapula, Stonesfield Slate
      -Indeterminate  Pubis (of a large pterodactyl), Stonesfield Slate
      -Indeterminate  Wing metacarpal (fragment), Stonesfield Slate

The Stonesfield Slate is a deferred deposit which contains a significant number of fragmentary fossils that are Middle Jurassic in age. Pterosaurs from this age are very rare and not well studied compared to those of other geological ages.