William Whitaker discovered the first rhynchosaur remains from East Devon whilst studying the cliffs near Budleigh Salterton in 1869. Since this historic discovery, fossils from East Devon have helped to shape our understanding of the Triassic Period, and more than ten species of reptile and amphibian have been found locally.
Rhynchosaurs were herbivorous reptiles that roamed in small herds for protection. They had strong upper and lower jaws to crush tough plant material. The hard beak at the front of the skull was used to snip plant stems and grub around in the soil for nutritious roots.
Rhynchosaur bones are the most common reptile fossils found in our local Triassic rocks. Unfortunately, most are badly damaged and broken - the remains of skeletons that were scattered far and wide as they tumbled along the bottom of fast-moving rivers.
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