Amaltheus margaritatus Ammonite Fossil Germany Jurassic with COA

Description

Genuine Amaltheus Ammonite Fossil

This genuine ammonite fossil is identified as Amaltheus margaritatus and comes from Iggingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It dates to the Upper Pliensbachian, also known regionally as the Domerian, within the Lower Jurassic. The specimen is attributed to the Margaritatus Zone, giving it especially useful biostratigraphic context. The photographs show the actual fossil offered for sale, so the ammonite pictured is the exact specimen you will receive.

Amaltheus was an extinct marine cephalopod with a coiled, chambered shell. During growth, the animal formed progressively larger chambers around the outer whorl. The living ammonite occupied the final body chamber, while the older sealed chambers contributed to buoyancy control. Ammonites were relatives of living squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses, although they belonged to their own extinct and remarkably diverse branch.

Upper Pliensbachian Geological Age

The Pliensbachian is a stage of the Early Jurassic Period, approximately 193 to 184 million years ago. During its later part, marine environments extended across much of Europe and supported rich ammonite faunas alongside bivalves, brachiopods, belemnites, and other sea life. After death, an ammonite shell could settle on the sea floor and become buried in sediment. Compaction, mineral replacement, and geological change then preserved parts of the shell as a fossil.

Ammonites evolved rapidly and were widely distributed through Jurassic seas. Their changing shell forms make them valuable index fossils, helping geologists correlate rock layers and establish relative ages. Amaltheus margaritatus is the characteristic name-bearing ammonite of the Margaritatus Zone, a recognised interval within the Upper Pliensbachian. This zone information gives the specimen a more precise geological position than a general Jurassic label alone.

Iggingen, Baden-Württemberg Provenance

Iggingen lies in Baden-Württemberg, a region of southern Germany renowned for fossil-bearing Jurassic sedimentary rocks. These deposits record ancient European marine environments and have produced a wide variety of ammonites and associated fossils. A specimen with documented locality and zonal information carries more collecting and educational context than an entirely unlocalised fossil.

Sediment deposited in the ancient sea helped protect portions of the shell and surrounding matrix. Natural colour, mineral texture, small breaks, areas of wear, and differences in surface preservation reflect the specimen’s geological history. These individual characteristics are authentic features of an ancient fossil rather than signs of modern manufacture.

Shell Form and Collectable Detail

Amaltheus ammonites are recognised for strongly ornamented shells, commonly displaying pronounced ribs and a distinctive keel along the outer margin. Examine the photographs for the visible whorls, rib pattern, shell outline, keel, matrix, and preserved surface detail on this individual example. Rib strength, whorl proportions, umbilical width, and changes in ornament around the shell are useful features when comparing ammonites and understanding growth.

Every fossil preserves a different balance of original shell, mineral replacement, and surrounding rock. The multiple photographs show the exact specimen from useful angles and present its condition, proportions, texture, and natural display character more accurately than a generic image could.

Exact Specimen and Full Sizing

Full sizing is shown in the photographs, which provide the best scale information for this individual fossil. The images are not stock photographs and do not represent a similar piece. They show the exact Amaltheus margaritatus ammonite fossil that will be supplied.

Authenticity and Presentation

This is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a generic Certificate of Authenticity card with a lifetime guarantee. It has been carefully chosen for its identifiable ornamented shell, Margaritatus Zone context, Upper Pliensbachian age, Iggingen locality, German provenance, and natural geological character. It makes a distinctive addition to a cabinet collection, educational display, office, study, or gift for anyone interested in authentic Lower Jurassic fossils, German palaeontology, or ammonite biostratigraphy.