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BIG FIND: Left to right, fossil collector Chris Moore, earth science manager for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site team Richard Edmonds and fossil collector Steve Etches with the crocodile skull

THE granddaddy of all crocodiles has been unearthed in Dorset after a freak rock fall.

Fossil finder Richard Edmonds came across the 60cm skull of a 130 million-year-old crocodile when walking along the shoreline of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site near Swanage.

The prehistoric predator, known as a goniopholis, would have roamed throughout Dorset's swamps and lagoons in the company of dinosaurs.

The Cretaceous-era crocodile will now go on display at the Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre until mid-September.

Mr Edmonds, earth science manager for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site team, said the skull is only the second to be found in the area in the last 30 years.

He added: "This is a once in a lifetime find. You don't expect to find something this spectacular without spending a lot more time on the coast.

"There had been a recent rock fall near Swanage that had cut right across the skull.

"The back of the skull was lying in the rubble on the beach and the rest was trapped in the cliff fall."

The well-preserved skull was the only part of the crocodile remaining because the bones from its body were scattered before being buried.

It was a nail-biting two weeks as Dorset fossil collectors Steve Etches and Chris Moore waited for permission to recover both parts of the reptile relic.

Mr Edmonds said: "In West Dorset we have a fossil collecting code that shortens the length of time it takes to obtain permission to a day or even less but that is not the case in Purbeck, so there was always a risk of the rest of the skull being damaged by the sea or an inexperienced collector."

The two parts were eventually reunited and - thanks to sponsorship from the Jurassic Coast Trust - were painstakingly cleaned for 80 hours at a workshop in Charmouth.

After being displayed over summer at Swanage Museum the crocodile skull will be studied by experts from Bristol University and the Natural History Museum.

Should they declare the crocodile skull to be a highly important historic find, it will be donated to a museum in Dorset.

James Weld, chairman of the Jurassic Trust, said: "The Jurassic Coast Trust is delighted to support the preparation of this important specimen, it is such a remarkable find and is a key piece to help us understand the history of the Jurassic Coast."

10:57am Thursday 23rd August 2007

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