Description
Amaltheus gibbosus Ammonite Fossil
This genuine Amaltheus gibbosus ammonite fossil is a collectible Lower Jurassic marine specimen from Lozère, Occitanie, France. Dating to the Upper Pliensbachian stage, this fossil represents a classic European Jurassic ammonite from the ancient seas that once covered parts of what is now southern France.
The specimen is a carefully chosen piece, with the photograph showing the actual fossil you will receive. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent addition to a fossil collection, natural history display, geology cabinet or educational collection.
Geology, Age and Locality
This fossil is from the Upper Pliensbachian of the Lower Jurassic, an interval dating to approximately 190 to 184 million years ago. During this time, much of western Europe was covered by warm, shallow to moderately deep epicontinental seas connected to the wider Tethyan marine realm. These Jurassic seas supported a rich variety of marine life, including ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, crinoids, gastropods, fish and early marine reptiles.
The Lozère region of Occitanie, France is well known for Jurassic sedimentary rocks that preserve marine fossils from these ancient environments. Fine muds, silts and carbonate-rich sediments accumulated on the seabed, gradually burying shells and other remains. Over millions of years, these sediments hardened into fossil-bearing rock, preserving ammonites such as Amaltheus gibbosus as durable natural history specimens.
French Jurassic ammonites are highly desirable to collectors because they combine attractive preservation, strong scientific interest and classic European geological provenance. A labelled specimen from Lozère is especially appealing for collectors of Lower Jurassic fossils and ammonites from France.
Fossil Type and Species Details
Amaltheus gibbosus is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside coiled external shells divided into internal chambers. The animal occupied the final body chamber, while the empty chambers helped regulate buoyancy as it moved through the water column.
The genus Amaltheus is one of the best-known Lower Jurassic ammonite groups and is especially associated with the Pliensbachian stage. Amaltheus ammonites are typically recognised by their elegant, compressed shell shape, moderately open umbilicus, ribbed flanks and a distinct keel along the outer edge of the shell. These features give the fossil a naturally decorative appearance while also providing important identification details.
Amaltheus gibbosus belongs to the family Amaltheidae, within the superfamily Eoderoceratoidea and the order Ammonitida. Amaltheid ammonites are important in Jurassic biostratigraphy because they evolved rapidly and were widely distributed across ancient seas. This makes them useful for dating and correlating Lower Jurassic marine deposits across Europe.
Upper Pliensbachian Marine Environment
When this ammonite was alive, the area now known as Lozère formed part of a Jurassic marine setting. Ammonites such as Amaltheus gibbosus were active swimming animals, moving through the water above a seabed inhabited by bivalves, brachiopods, crinoids and other invertebrates. Belemnites, fish and other marine animals would also have shared this ancient sea.
The shell of the ammonite was both protective and functional. Its chambered structure allowed buoyancy control, while the ribs and keel strengthened the shell and influenced its movement through the water. These natural features are part of what makes ammonites among the most popular fossil groups for collectors, combining visual beauty with genuine palaeontological importance.
Lozère, Occitanie, France
Lozère in southern France is a respected locality area for Jurassic marine fossils. Specimens from named regions such as this are valued because they preserve not only the fossil itself, but also its geological and geographical context. Clear provenance makes a fossil more meaningful for collectors, students and anyone interested in Earth history.
This Amaltheus gibbosus ammonite from Lozère is ideal for display, study, teaching or adding to a themed collection of French fossils, Jurassic ammonites or Lower Jurassic marine specimens. Its combination of recognised genus, Upper Pliensbachian age and French locality provenance gives it strong collecting appeal.
Genuine Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. Full sizing please see photo. The fossil shown in the photograph is the actual specimen you will receive, allowing you to buy with confidence and add a carefully selected, authentic Lower Jurassic ammonite fossil from France to your collection.
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