Diplodocus Toe Bone Found On Beach

A fossil collector has found a fossilized Diplodocus toe bone on the beach at Bexhill in Sussex, proof perhaps that these enormous dinosaurs once lived on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Photo: Frank's all smiles over his latest discovery.

Courtesy of Alan Jones, The Brighton Argus.

Diplodocus is the name given to a huge plant-eating dinosaur which lived between 155 and 145 million years ago and belonged to the 'sauropod' family of dinosaurs.

This is the first time any Diplodocus remains have been found in Britain. Most Diplodocus fossils have been found in America, though other sauropod fossils have been found on the Isle of Wight, just off the English south coast.

Photo: the toe bone is so big, Frank needs something bigger to measure it with!

Courtesy of Alan Jones, The Brighton Argus.

The fossil was found by a collector called Frank Hamill. He spoke to the local newspaper, The Brighton Argus, about his find and told them:

"I'm absolutely over the moon to have discovered this. I didn't know what it was at first. I knew it was a fossil and possibly a dinosaur but it was only when we sent it away that I realised its significance....this is the best find I have ever made."

Experts believe this Diplodocus would have weighed about 30 tonnes and been up to 30 metres long.

To find out more about this huge animal, take a look at the Diplodocus Data File from the Natural History Museum. If you live anywhere near London, there's a whole Diplodocus skeleton on display at the Museum too.

Photo: If the toe bone is that big, how big was its owner?!

Copyright: Natural History Museum, London.

Frank has donated the toe bone to Bexhill Museum where it is on display in their permanent collection.