Career Path and Accomplishments
What were Mary Anning's two fields of science and what did she collect.
Paleontology, anatomy, and fossil hunting.
What challenges did her family's religion give her?
She had to face religious discrimination. Dissenters were also not allowed to attend many Universities.
What are Mary Anning's birth and death dates?
Mary Anning was born May 21, 1799 in Lyme Regis, Dorset England.
She died on March 9, 1847 at 47 years old in Lyme Regis, Dorset England.
Describe and name Mary Anning's dog.
A small black and white dog named Tray; he was known as her loyal fossil hunting companion
What was the significance of the Pterosaur (pterodactyl) specimen that Mary Anning recovered in 1828?
It was the first excavated specimen outside of Germany.
What financial struggles did she have?
Paying off her family's debt and having to sell her findings to provide for her family and make ends meet. She was born into a poor family and remained in poverty.
How many siblings did Mary Anning initially have, and how many survived (including herself).
Around ten children, and two survived, her and her brother.
What happened to Mary Anning when she was 15 months old?
She was struck by lightning, while being held by a neighbor.
What specimen did Mary Anning discover in 1823? This was arguably her most significant find.
The plesiosaur skeleton.
How did being a woman affect Mary Anning in the science community?
Male scientists she worked with would often discredit her for her work and her findings were occasionally initially doubted by male scientists. The Geological Society of London refused to admit her to the scientific community and were hesitant to recognize her findings because of her gender.
Which of Mary Anning's family members died when she was 11? He also sparked her interest in fossils and taught her the basics of fossil hunting.
Mary Anning's father.
What fossil did Mary Anning discover could be used as a tool for writing and drawing?
Fossilized ink.
what fossil study did she pioneer?
the study of coprolites.
How did society affect the woman and girls of Lyme Regis in Mary Anning's time?
Most women and girls in Lyme Regis received little to no education. Women couldn't vote. Society was male- dominated and portrayed women as inferior.
What did Mary Anning teach herself?
Geology, basic anatomy, paleontology, and scientific illustration.
What happened to Mary Anning's discoveries?
Many of her important discoveries locations are not known today.
In 1929 she excavated the squaloraja. What is the squaloraja?
A fossil fish in the transition group of specimens between sharks and rays.
What disease did Mary Anning suffer from that eventually killed her?
Breast cancer.
What kind education did Mary Anning receive; why and where did she receive this education?
Little education; her family was congregationalist and because she was a girl; A Congregationalist Sunday school.
What time period do the cliffs in Mary Anning's home, Lyme Regis date back to?
The Triassic period.