Mary Anning (21 May 1799 – 9 March 1847) was an English paleontologist, fossil collector, and fossil dealer who became known around the world for important finds she made Jurassic marine fossil beds in the cliffs along the English Channel . . . . Her discoveries included the first ichthyosaur skeleton correctly identified; the first two more complete plesiosaur skeletons found; the first pterosaur skeleton located outside Germany; and important fish fossils . . . .