Rare fossil marlin skull discovery - one of my best fossil hunts yet - around 50 million years old

Check out my Patreon for secret projects, bonus videos and behind the scenes footage: / mamlambo
I was on holiday down south and stopped to check out a random beach that looked promising and stumbled across a very rare fossil skull! The fossil bone is unlike anything I have seen before, very different to the cetacean bone I usually find.
I took this past the museum and they reckon it is the biggest fish fossil they have seen come out of New Zealand!
Instagram: / mamlambofossils

[@valiantwarrior4517]

04:51 Does look like a coral or even a big sea lily crinoid. Pretty cool. I’m glad you decided to notify a museum about it.

[@Kal311975]

That was a HUGE Crinoid you found in the wall! I hope you let a museum know about it. They might have a way to retrieve it.

[@alexandermelchers1497]

Wow! And there you were thinking you hadn't found anything interesting just a couple of minutes before! An amazing find! And, indeed, as Gaelic Warrior pointed out below: just think of the number of people who just walked straight past it, either not thinking of fossils at all, or believing it to just be a huge chunk of fossilised wood. Such a lucky find, man! :D

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahhaah I thought it was petrified wood at first as well 😁 and then a dolphin skull, but third time lucky on the ID! I might try and compare it with some other ones that have been found around New Zealand.

[@Northern5tar]

Congrats! A skull is always special but this is a really nice find, being of such a humongous specimen of this species. Must have roamed the oceans for many many years. That unknown thing embedded in the rock wall is very intriguing. It really does look like some sort of coral or organism that grew on the ocean floor. And huge, whatever it is.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I totally agree! It must have been a beast back in the day! Probably saw a few Megalodon's swimming around, crazy to think about it!

[@margiebrown7436]

The formation at 5:22 reminds me of a giant conch shell.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah it really does! Imagine the size of it 😀

[@erincross4328]

That’s what I thought too. Or maybe a welk.

[@Wildart2]

@@erincross4328 That would make enough Ceviche for a year.

[@koliopeedesignsyay3158]

Has it been Identified yet?

[@pewpewpewpew6124]

@@koliopeedesignsyay3158 I think it's a left handed whelk shell, a giant one though

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Wow, I hope that coral is saved too. What a fantastic specimen.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I hope so too! I haven't heard anything yet about it.

[@twilightknight123]

I'm so glad youtube decided to recommend you. Love the videos and it's what I've been wanting to go out and start doing for years! How do you decide what beaches to search?

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yay I'm glad too! This one was really lucky, usually I Google for sedimentary areas but this one I just tried my luck at!

[@Treasurehunter11001]

Incredible finds man . That skull must be excessively rare what a find !!!!!!!!!!! Really enjoyed the video.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Super rare!! Glad you enjoyed it 😄

[@KatyDidRocks]

3:58 - TERRIFYING! 5:15 looks like a conch shell. AWESOME FIND WITH THE FISH SKULL!!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Katy! Yeah, I agree - terrifying faces. That fish skull is so robust, not like any other fish fossil I have found or seen found before. It could be a shell, just have no idea how to remove it without messing it up!

[@Fred-zn5xh]

Dang, Nice finds! Can’t wait to see the prep for that “crab leg” or whatever it is, it will be cool to see!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Busy with it now, it's looking very "crabby" :)

[@Fred-zn5xh]

Guessing by the condition of the shells the crab will look very nice!

[@sethwilliams3630]

What a find! You have definitely put the time on the beach, well earned find. Just those seashell's are a bucket list find for me. Happy hunting.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Seth! It was such a random find, I literally spent 20min on that beach!

[@grayhaven451]

Definitely one of your coolest finds that I have seen on your channel. Can't wait to see what comes from your prep later this week. Congratulations!!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Awesome! Thank you! Busy uploading the prep now :)

[@Corntassels]

I saw a couple of your shorts, and really enjoyed them, then stumbled on the Penguin fossil find, and subbed. I love being able to follow along with you as you make these wonderful finds. "Oh my word," indeed! Thank you :)

[@irischicklinda]

That's the biggest sea shell I've seen ! What a fantastic find !

[@brucerivers6627]

What a great find . Very beautiful fossils . I’m a rock hound also I have collected since I was a Boy Scout .

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Bruce! 😁

[@brucerivers6627]

Your welcome

[@damianabbate4423]

Another amazing video! Thanks for taking the time to make these. Very inspiring.

[@tracey6038]

Congratulations on your fish skull fossil and I love the shells. Another great video. Cheers mate

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Tracey! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sherylcrowe3255]

I'm catching up on all your stuff! Wow amazing! Fantastic work. Thanks for sharing 🌼💛✌

[@lindalewis5066]

What amazing finds! Congratulations! Looking forward to the finished prep work. BTW, I always love your choice of music & seeing the countryside on your drives. 👍💌

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much! I'm loving those time-lapse driving videos as well, they come out so smoothly!

[@SimonTout]

Congratulations on your finds. Fortune favours the well prepared! Oamaru is looking very pretty too.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you very much! yeah, I love Oamaru. Such a cool town to spend time in!

[@nickmerrill8030]

5:10, that has to be a giant conch and a massive one! I’ve seen some large ones diving off the coast of Florida and the Caribbean, that one may be larger than any I’ve seen?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I few people have said it could be a conch, I will have to go back and fetch it!

[@nickmerrill8030]

@@MamlamboFossils I'd like to see a video on that. Happy hunting Sir!

[@majmikecalnan]

More like a lightening whelk.

[@abigailgutbrod9205]

Looks like an extremely big welk type shell or branch of coral. How cool!

[@jimbracknell5648]

Awesome find! For a second I thought you were saying 'Bullfish" ; I was like...whats a bullfish...lol

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahaha I need some good subtitles for my videos, but KZbin doesn't do well with my accent for the automatic subtitles :)

[@RESEARCHINGYOURROOTS]

Great video. Thanks for sharing you incredible and historical finds!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@afineliner740]

What a great find, congratulations, you'll be famous. Those shells are really outstanding. Good luck with the preps 👍

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much! The prep is done and uploaded, will publish it this evening.

[@tomgarzaiii7111]

Another awesome video as always. Congrats on those great finds.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Tom! I've had some good luck recently with the fossils 😁

[@fossilwildlife5198]

Hey Mamlambo, the bone 3:37 is an ulna bone. I am not sure about the species (maybe rabbit/hare). You know that better which animals live there. And the skull is incredible!!! 🤠⛏️

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks for that! I had a quick google and it looks to be a rabbit / hare ulna like you say :)

[@andypanda4927]

Agreed could be tibia, also. Seemed over long for rabbit relative, spanned all 4 fingers. Better finds than I ever had, just some shark or fish teeth and a, mostly intact, beaver skull

[@Cliffwalkerrockhounding]

I would say its a wing bone from a sea bird. How dense is it?

[@notananimationchannel]

Those road timelapses are so satisfying! Good job on both the video and the hunt.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! Loving the gopro's stability, makes it look like I'm flying 😁

[@elizabeththomas6743]

@ 4:54 my husband and I both agreed it looked like a massive conch shell. I’ve never seen one so big!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I went back and couldn't find it again, but I will look at it again!

[@lilianfowler7988]

This one is a ways back but you never fail to be as gleeful as a kid at Christmas. It is contagious. Thank you and congrats. BTW I was really hoping for the mystery fossil in the wall, too. Lol I am sure you could tote it. No pressure. But that was a year ago.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah, that fossil was gone last time I went to go check! Not sure what it could have been?!

[@lilianfowler7988]

@@MamlamboFossils I hope it found a good home. It is very impressive the time and care you spend bringing them to life. Also the scientific information you share. Sometimes, my grandchildren watch with me. Thanks, for being a role model for them to be curious and persistent.

[@MamlamboFossils]

@@lilianfowler7988 ah I love it so much that your grandchildren watch as well 😀

[@steveclark4291]

Wow , thank you for sharing that awesome skull fossil ! Take care , stay safe and healthy wherever your next adventure takes you ! Doing well here in Kansas .

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Steve! It is a great fossil :)

[@scotttrent9348]

Congratulations on an amazing find. Love watching your videos. Makes me want to get out and hunt for things. Keep them coming

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Scott! Hope you get time to go out and find some fossils soon 😁

[@Doxymeister]

G'morning, Mamlambo, sipping coffee and saw your video....haven't been awake long enough to say anything intelligent, except...holy cow! That's incredible! What a productive and exciting day! And glad your hand has improved so much!

[@Doxymeister]

That mystery thing? That looks almost like a conch or whelk? IDK but it's gigantic!

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's very big! I'm still not sure if it's a trace fossil or not.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It was a great day! Well worth stopping and exploring the random beach, wish I had more time to explore it. I was only there for 30min.

[@timkbirchico8542]

Great moment for you, I collect fossils and stone tools in the Moroccan Sahara, I know the feeling when you find something special.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Wow you must find some amazing stuff!

[@majmikecalnan]

I was stationed with tbe Peacekeeping forces in tbe Western Sahara. I brought back 100kg of fossils found in minefields and battlegrounds.👍

[@gaelicwarrior5064]

Just think of all the people that have randomly stepped across those skull fossils and saw trash. Congratulations, bud!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!! I did misidentify it twice 😄

[@gaelicwarrior5064]

@@MamlamboFossils Don't be so hard on yourself. You claimed the prize and furthered the science. I'd call that a win on any day.

[@paleozofthelance5447]

@@MamlamboFossils Mamlambo. I found a fact that everyone forgot. Happy National Fossil Day! For me at least.

[@MamlamboFossils]

@@gaelicwarrior5064 Thanks! There might even be a paper written on this skull which would be amazing!

[@MamlamboFossils]

@@paleozofthelance5447 How did I not know that?! Thanks for the reminder :)

[@aserta]

2:30 3 of those stones have stuff in them. But they're probably too small to have something worth the effort. 3:40 is a kitty bone. The ulna to be more specific. 3:57 looks straight out of a Star Trek TOS set :)) 5:12 whatever it is, it clearly has a spiral or at least concentric structure at the bottom, might be worth excavating. (edit: or not, you took the wiser option). Congrats on the skull!!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks for the ID of that bone, I checked it out online and it does look correct! Those rock formations sure were spooky! I agree, that big spiral-shaped fossil will be worth fetching with the correct tools. Thanks, I'm really happy with the skull!

[@roygbiv4675]

Looks like a giant conch! Incredible find!

[@davidschmale3359]

Crinoid? At 6:00

[@TJfossil]

Congratulations on the rare find! Great eye to spot that! Well done!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Cheers! I couldn't believe it :)

[@KittyLovesGlover]

5:10 looks like a massive whelk shell. Did you guys have a massive storn system that drudged all that up? just weird you were the first one there to collect all those! awesome though. I'd like to find just ONE fossil, lol. TY for sharing

[@MamlamboFossils]

It does look like a large shell! I'll have to go and fetch it sometime. There was some large ocean swells that week so might have been the reason 😁

[@Failedprodegy42]

Omg! It's just littered with some of the best skipping stones I've ever seen!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahaha true!!!

[@colombecouture7974]

Great find. I love how you enjoy what you're doing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much! I really do enjoy getting out there and looking for fossils :)

[@2flight]

epic day. great finds. thanks for taking us along!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure!

[@davidnieuwenhuis2590]

Always enjoying your video's! You are taking the one who watches it on an adventure with you. Its relaxing and exiting both at the same time. Finding moa bones or crabs and petrified wood. I wish i was aware off that at the time i have been there! Maybe next time. Congrats with your great find !! Cheers , David Nieuwenhuis

[@MamlamboFossils]

Awesome, thank you! I hope you get to visit NZ again soon. So many places to explore and look around for cool fossils and other treasures.

[@jorge89metal]

Congrats on the finds mate , got a jealous Aussie here wishing I could be out finding awesome fossils like you lol

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks mate!! Hope you get to go out soon 😀

[@Biffle-re3db]

The skull was a great find! It is totally amazing!!! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing, it was very interesting! 👍✌💖

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a great surprise 😁

[@roddydurst6108]

What a find! Congrats my friend. Can't wait to see you prep the possible crab to see what it is for sure. Thanks for the great videos.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks 👍 The prep is done for the crab, it will go live this evening :)

[@brucetaylor2887]

Yeah that is totally awesome find. Very inspired to keep up my regular beach / river combing!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Good luck! I hope you find something really good!

[@MayMay8t8]

How did I miss this video! haha your reaction when you realised it was a skull ! I replayed it 5 times LOL " uh uuuh uh whooo"!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahahaha I really thought it was petrified wood at first. It looks just like some other pieces I have found before. Glad I got the skull part right, even though I got the species wrong!

[@hazelsegnitz3254]

7.22 like a child with a bag of peps !!!!🤗 Great find and video 👏

[@fenixrose85]

These are so relaxing to watch !

[@Pamelaandjoulepii]

This is good ! I posted a fish head I found in BC Canada and this helps me . I’m going to bring mine somewhere to see if it’s real too! Mine is about 1.5 inches . Much smaller but the detail is incredible.

[@MamlamboFossils]

That sounds amazing!!! If you can, please email me a picture [e-mail] 😁

[@aundreya22]

Did anything ever happen to that strange formation on the cliff? I'd wanna go back and start slowly chipping away at it lol

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's still there as far as I know 😁 I notified the local museum so they might still go fetch it.

[@jasonrice8066]

Beautiful. You’re so lucky. Keep it up Mourne!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! 😃

[@michaelterrill6444]

Man. To think your possibly the first human to ever touch something that is 50 million years old. Is un real. Super cool.

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

* The shell at the 4:58 mark looks like a Lightening Welk which grow that big today as well as in fossils.. ~ Can't wait to see you prep the Skull.. Hope it is mostly complete..

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks for the info Leslye! The skull is mostly exposed just by mother nature so I won't have to do much!

[@sarejen6868]

Woah! Finding the skull is so awesome! Congrats! It would be fun just following you around even if had to drag your wagon lol

[@MamlamboFossils]

That would be cool! I'm always looking for people to come along :)

[@lennynash8221]

Wow, that is such an amazing find. Congratulations

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Lenny! I'm still blown away!

[@chriscone784]

That skull is amazing. Excellent find!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Chris! It is something special!

[@lispy5174]

very cool finds mambo!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Lispy! 😄

[@patrickforget5088]

Yeah when I first seen that I love your chat channel I especially love some of those crabs that you find and I can imagine your fossils that's what would be cool to see it's like your fossil room and go over the best ones you found

[@liamcarey335]

So cool! The skull is awesome- how big would that billfish have been? The 19 million year old shells are a great find.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It must have been a pretty big one! At least a few metres big I would say 😄

[@wendygoicochea5910]

This looks so much fun. Wish i could do what you do. I got excited when i saw the skull on the beach.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahah I just wish I didnt get the species wrong twice 😂😂

[@Alrik.]

Amazing finds like always!! :D

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! 😊 That skull is still so cool to look at!

[@klimentol]

love ur vids Mambo

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Jakub!

[@20171118]

I have some knowledge, so I think it's fun to understand various things. Thank you for the wonderful video.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@User-wj7vx]

i would love to get into fossil hunting, blows my mind every time just imagining these things living life millions of years ago

[@gerritrookworst3701]

Where are you from? Almost all countries have fossils.

[@User-wj7vx]

Gerrit Rookworst the part of the UK near ICI but it’s all just industrial estates and dumping grounds

[@MamlamboFossils]

You might have to go to the Yorkshire coast :)

[@loutra4782]

Great stuff again 👍👍👍

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@phillipdavis3705]

You have a keen eye, I would have thought it to be drift wood. Great video you look like you really enjoy!😁

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks 👍 I must admit, I thought it was petrified wood at first!

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

Love the large Conch fossil that you put your hammer 🔨 by. 😉👍

[@MamlamboFossils]

Me too! It was soooo big!

[@Adriana-hp1eh]

I can't believe that was left behind! Roll it home if you have to. Hahahaha!

[@markclelland3510]

Wow! Great find, congratulations.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ForgottenFossils]

crazy find wow

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Craig!

[@mollyhollypollydolly8760]

Wow, my dad would flip if he caught a fish that size, when he goes fishing 😂😂😂

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahah awesome! I've never caught anything that big either :)

[@chova1000]

Wow!!! Incredible, now you have a unique and special piece

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Cheers! This one is going to have a special place in my collection :)

[@jjbentley9]

Very cool finds.😁

[@RG.147]

Wow a fish skull! That must be very rare, I’ve never fossil hunted in New Zealand, but where I fossil hunt, skulls are rare as well, so I haven’t found one yet

[@LouellaLikes]

Congrats, what treasures you found! The object in the rock looked like a giant shell to me.Stay safe !

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you, I will! I didn't want to damage the "shell" so left it and let the local museum know where it was in case it was something worth fetching 😄

[@am5173]

This is soooo cool, such a good find

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!

[@robertbeighter6336]

Congrats man, congrats - what an epic couple of hunts. Did you get some nice agates as well? Oamaru is a nice wee town, try getting down there for the fete, its amazing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! I only found that one agate, I didn't have much time to fossil hunt - I was really lucky with what I found!

[@dyannejohnson6184]

That formation is perfect for artistic shots lovvved that

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's a beautiful area!

[@TheOldladyB]

Unbelievable find. Well done.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Darlene!

[@butchh11]

Awesome .Thanks for sharing

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! 😁

[@rissanen1957]

I have some very beautiful fossils I found while I lived in texas and a full clam shell with the ridges on both sides. Yours don’t look as old as ones I have . Somewhere in my yard there is a fish head. I would see people all the time picking at rocks for fossils . Now that she’ll is a good one. I bet if you go through those rocks you’ll find a lot. I’ve always had a good eyed for fossils. I wanted to spend my life digging for dinosaurs. I still love them to this day. Just sit me in a area like that and watch what I find.

[@MamlamboFossils]

That sounds like an amazing place! Sounds like there are some really cool fossils in your area :)

[@Magisktification]

Wow amazing hunt. Conparing to were im at in Sweden i would get excited about just about every damn rock visible around that skull!

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Dude! I miss being able to watch your vids. I’ve gotten busy lately but man. Seriously, I love going on the hunts with you brother. It’d be a dream to do my first fossil hunt with you one day. Once that trans-tasman bubble gets going. Sendin ya mega much love brother. You’re doing frickin awesome man. But obviously of course. Your vids are easy and pleasant to watch. Seriously.

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Yeah just loved this.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hi Rookie! I really hope that trans-tasman bubble opens soon! Thanks for all the support, it really means so much! I'm planning a trip over to Aus as well to do some fossil hunting, we should try and plan an agate trip as well so you can show me how to find some chalcedony goodness! Chat soon

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

@@MamlamboFossils oi man that would be awesome! Please when you know plans etc let me know okay. I’d be so pumped to hound with y’a!

[@raygrange7312]

Great stuff again. For all you rock fanatics out there. Found a good channel called Treasure hunter. Guy from the UK. Excellent fossils and locations.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Awesome thank you! I'll check it out :)

[@mirkatu3249]

This is so exciting! Way to go! :-)

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! So happy with that skull 😁

[@mikeferman9979]

,amazing find wow 🤘 awsome as always

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, this one was rather special!!

[@mollyfromthedarkside5897]

Amazing finds!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Molly!

[@lathesailor2836]

That's a shell!! Like a conch type! That's huge!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'll have to go and fetch it!

[@ChrisSherlock]

Looks good!

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's an incredible fossil!

[@rwitter5333]

I like your music selections

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! Its so hard to choose the music!

[@eddiebiscetti3237]

Good on you! Legend, what a great skull.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Eddie 😁

[@cptnkaos5994]

Great finds congrats

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks mate!

[@czcibor418]

Everybody congrats You on this beautiful skull, but what I find most beautiful in all Your videos, including this, is how You treat all fossils. These shells that You carefully clean with brush, leaving all sediment that is not necessary to remove, using consolidant to strengthen Your finds, Your experiments with new techniques of preparation, and so on. What I don't like in most of fossil related channels is how people treat fossils. They rush to the site, crash every concretions they find, often destroying fossils, and rushing back home with what was not destroyed by them. That is why I don't follow lot of channels. As to opposite, in Your hunts there is always carefulness, there is no unnecessary rush, if You don't know, or are not sure what is inside, You almost always take it home to examine it in controllable environment, and if You have to break something on site, and doing it You crush something valuable , You take it home to glue it back. Respect! As for this skull btw, it actually is really great.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks for the great message Artur. I try not to break something open without good reason. I still make mistakes and break stuff, luckily fossils glue back together quite well! And once you realize that most fossils have some kind of repair work done to them, you don't feel so bad for having to fix something.

[@lindaderoos5240]

Wow man !! Fantastic finding a 48 M fish fossil 👍👏

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Linda!

[@fossiladventures2926]

Great find :)

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!

[@lizzymoore54]

Looks like a sea shell of some type! It’s HUGE if it is, WOW!!!! Can’t wait to see the skull prepped! Great finds this time, mate. ☺️ Random beaches it is from now on.....👏👏👏

[@TRACYROUNDS]

I agree the item at 5:12 sure looks like a shell.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Fingers crossed! That skull is going to be a beast to prep but will be worth it. It's quite a significant find, so I might get to write it up :)

[@duanewhite3184]

Looks like a skull of pterodactyl with the big broke off

[@MamlamboFossils]

It does look like that!

[@MRTOMBO]

So interesting. The only fossils I've found are from Bottlecapsius Pepsius sad to say.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I know all about those 😂 I used to metal detect and find soooo many cans!

[@adenmuhum5676]

Great

[@claudiobernardi3002]

Truly amazing. I can't believe it! 🤯

[@MamlamboFossils]

Right?! What a crazy find!

[@liamredmill9134]

That was a really psycodelic rock quest,nice too see you doing ok

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Liam! It was good fun!