Oligocene

The Oligocene deposits of the Isle of Wight have produced restricted, but important, reptile faunas. The finds are dominated by remains of freshwater turtles and crocodilians, but other elements include fully terrestrial forms including snakes. The better-documented localities include the following:

ISLE OF WIGHT: Thorness Bay (Bembridge Marls Member; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 455 935]; Trionyx incrassatus, Trionyx indet.; Hooker and Ward, 1980, p. 9; Daley, 1973, pp. 83–93); Gurnard Bay (=Gurnet Bay; Bembridge Marls Member, marine band; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 47 95]; Trionyx incrassatus, T. circumsulcata, 'Emys' sp., trionychid indet., snake, Diplocynodon bantoniensis; Daley, 1973, Hooker and Ward, 1980, p. 9); Whitecliff Bay (Bembridge Marls Member; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 643 864]; turtle, Trionyx); Bembridge (Bembridge Marls Member; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 65 88]; Trionyx sp., T. incrassatus Owen, 1849, trionychid indet.; Hooker and Ward, 1980, p. 9); Bouldnor and Hamstead Cliffs (Bembridge Marls Member, Hamstead Member; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 391 913]; crocodilians, Ocadia crassa, Trionyx sp., Diplocynodon bantoniensis, Diplocynodon sp., Paleryx sp.); Yarmouth (Bembridge Marls Member; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 367 899]; trionychid indet.; Hooker and Ward, 1980, p. 8); Hamstead (=Hempstead; Hamstead Member, mottled clays and marls?; Early Oligocene, Rupelian; [SZ 40 91]; Trionyx sp, 'chelonian', Paleryx depressus, Crocodilus bastingsii, Diplocynodon bantoniensis; Hooker and Ward, 1980, p. 9).

One GCR site has been selected for British Oligocene reptiles:

1. Bouldnor and Hamstead Cliffs, Isle of Wight [SZ 391 913]. Early Oligocene (Rupelian), Bembridge Marls Member, Hamstead Member, Bouldnor Formation.

References