Speeton Clay Formation
The Speeton Clay Formation is a Lower Cretaceous geological formation in Yorkshire, northern England. Unlike the contemporaneous terrestrial Wealden Group to the south, the Speeton Clay was deposited in marine conditions. The most common fossils in the unit are belemnites, followed by ammonites and the lobster Meyeria ornata. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.
The formation is named after the village of Speeton in North Yorkshire.
Fossil content
The following fossils have been reported from the formation:- Reptiles
- * Ichthyosaurs
- ** Acamptonectes densus
- * Neornithischians
- ** Owenodon hoggii
- ** Iguanodontia indet.
- * Sauropterygians
- ** Elasmosauridae - "Speeton Clay plesiosaurian"
- Fish
- * Cretorectolobus doylei
- * "Dasyatis" speetonensis
- * "Protosqualus. sp"
- * Notidanodon lanceolatus
- * Notorhynchus aptiensis
- * Synechodus dubrisiensis
- * Spathobatis rugosus
- * ?Sphenodus sp.
- * "Elops" neocomiensis
- * Pycnodontidae indet.
- * Semionotidae indet.
- * Teleostei indet.
- * ?Triakidae indet.
- Invertebrates
- * Crustaceans
- ** Martillepas auriculum
- * Crinoids
- ** Crinoidea indet.