Mary Anning(1799 — 1843)
Mary Anning
Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande
7 min read
Mary Anning est une paléontologue autodidacte anglaise qui, dès l'enfance, collectait des fossiles sur les falaises de Lyme Regis. Elle découvrit les premiers squelettes complets d'ichtyosaure et de plésiosaure, révolutionnant la compréhension des espèces disparues. Malgré ses contributions majeures, elle fut longtemps exclue des cercles scientifiques en raison de son sexe et de sa condition modeste.
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Vers 1811-1812 : découverte du premier squelette complet d'ichtyosaure avec son frère Joseph
- 1823 : mise au jour du premier squelette complet de plésiosaure
- 1828 : découverte du premier ptérosaure identifié en Grande-Bretagne (Dimorphodon)
- Exclue de la Geological Society of London en raison de son sexe, malgré la reconnaissance de ses pairs
- Ses travaux contribuent directement aux théories sur l'extinction des espèces et alimentent les réflexions précédant Darwin
Works & Achievements
Mary and her brother Joseph uncovered the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton (a Jurassic marine reptile) at Lyme Regis. This find was one of the first concrete pieces of evidence for the existence of extinct species.
Mary unearthed a nearly intact plesiosaur skeleton, sparking an international debate among scientists. The naturalist Georges Cuvier ultimately confirmed the authenticity of the specimen.
She discovered Dimorphodon macronyx, the first fossil flying reptile identified in Great Britain. William Buckland described the species but explicitly acknowledged Mary's role in the find.
Mary Anning was the first to understand that the 'bezoars' found near fossil skeletons were in fact fossilised excrement (coprolites). This discovery made it possible to study the diet of extinct species.
She identified a fossil of a shark-ray (Squaloraja) representing a transitional link between two groups of fish. Louis Agassiz, the foremost specialist in fossil fish, acknowledged the exceptional precision of her observations.
Anecdotes
At the age of fifteen months, Mary Anning was struck by lightning during a violent storm in Lyme Regis. Three people who were with her perished on the spot, but the little girl miraculously survived. Her neighbours attributed her exceptional intelligence and curiosity to this event.
In 1823, Mary Anning discovered the first complete plesiosaur skeleton ever unearthed. The palaeontologist William Conybeare, who published the findings under his name alone, nonetheless acknowledged that without her, the discovery would never have been made. Mary received neither official credit nor compensation commensurate with the scientific importance of the find.
In 1833, during one of her daily outings along the cliffs, a rockfall killed her faithful dog Tray and very nearly took her own life as well. She nonetheless continued her research in the aftermath of this tragedy, as selling fossils was the only way for her to support her family.
The English tongue twister 'She sells seashells by the seashore' is said to have been inspired by Mary Anning, who did indeed sell her fossil finds to tourists and collectors along the seafront at Lyme Regis.
Despite her groundbreaking discoveries, Mary Anning was never accepted as a full member of the Geological Society of London, which was reserved for men. She was, however, one of the first women to receive an annual pension from the British Association for the Advancement of Science, shortly before her death.
Primary Sources
I beg to inform you that I have lately discovered a new animal... which I believe will prove a great curiosity to all who take an interest in Natural History.
This specimen was discovered by Miss Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, in whose hands have been found so many valuable additions to our knowledge of the fossil ichthyosauri.
I dedicate these species to Miss Mary Anning, whose name deserves to be remembered by all those who are interested in the progress of science.
Miss Anning pointed out to me the layers in which the fossil fish are found, and explained with great accuracy the geological succession of the strata.
Key Places
Mary Anning's hometown, on the English Channel coast. The region's Jurassic cliffs are among the most fossil-rich in Europe, and it is here that she spent her entire life prospecting.
A 185 km coastline designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, of which Lyme Regis is the historic heart. Mary Anning was its first systematic explorer and revealed its exceptional palaeontological potential.
Several of the fossils discovered by Mary Anning are preserved and displayed there, including the 1811 ichthyosaur. She sold them to institutions and collectors who later bequeathed them to the museum.
A small shop run by Mary and her mother, where she displayed and sold her fossil finds. She welcomed renowned scientists there, including William Buckland and Henry de la Beche.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Découverte du premier ichthyosaure complet
1811
Découverte du premier plésiosaure complet
1823
Identification du premier ptérosaure britannique (Dimorphodon)
1828
Identification des coprolites
1824
Découverte du Squaloraja (poisson fossile)
1829
