Androgynoceras Ammonite Fossil Lower Jurassic Whitby Maculatum Subzone COA Included Genuine UK Specimen

Description

Genuine Androgynoceras Ammonite Fossil from Whitby, Yorkshire

Presented here is an authentic Androgynoceras ammonite fossil from the world-famous Jurassic exposures of Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. This is a true marine fossil preserved within the Lower Lias of the Early Jurassic, offering an exceptional opportunity to own a genuine specimen from one of Britain’s most historic fossil coastlines.

The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive. It has been carefully selected for quality and display appeal, and full sizing can be viewed clearly in the accompanying images.

This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, ensuring confidence for collectors, educators, or gift buyers alike.

Geological Setting – Lower Lias, Maculatum Subzone

This ammonite originates from the Maculatum Subzone, a recognised subdivision of the Lower Jurassic ammonite biostratigraphy. These strata date to approximately 190–195 million years ago, during the Sinemurian Stage of the Early Jurassic.

Whitby is internationally celebrated for its rich Lower Lias sequences, consisting of alternating shales, mudstones, and limestone beds deposited in an ancient marine basin. These sediments are renowned for preserving ammonites in superb detail, making Yorkshire one of the most productive fossil regions in Europe.

The Maculatum Subzone is particularly important for correlating Lower Jurassic rocks across Britain and beyond, as ammonites such as Androgynoceras serve as key index fossils for geological dating.

Fossil Type – Ammonite (Extinct Marine Cephalopod)

Androgynoceras belongs to the extinct subclass Ammonoidea, part of the cephalopod molluscs that once dominated Jurassic oceans. These creatures were close relatives of modern squid and nautilus, but with more complex shell sutures and rapid evolutionary change.

Scientific classification includes:

• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Subclass: Ammonoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Family: Echioceratidae

Ammonites are among the most iconic fossils worldwide, valued both for their beauty and scientific importance.

Morphology and Notable Features of Androgynoceras

Androgynoceras ammonites are admired for their distinctive shell form, often displaying:

• A tightly coiled, planispiral shell
• Strong ribbing across the whorls
• Well-defined ornamentation typical of Sinemurian ammonites
• A robust and compact profile ideal for display

These features reflect both the growth stages of the animal and its adaptation to active life in Jurassic seas. Every ridge and curve preserved in stone represents millions of years of geological history.

Depositional Environment – Jurassic Marine Preservation

During the Early Jurassic, the Whitby area lay beneath a shallow epicontinental sea. Warm marine waters supported abundant life including ammonites, belemnites, fish, and marine reptiles.

After death, ammonite shells settled onto the seabed where fine muds rapidly buried them. Low oxygen conditions and mineral-rich sediments allowed exceptional fossilisation, preserving these ammonites in remarkable detail within the Lower Lias beds.

Authenticity, Collecting, and Display Value

This Androgynoceras fossil is perfect for:

• Jurassic fossil collectors
• Geological and palaeontological study
• Educational teaching collections
• Natural history gifts and home display

You will receive:

• The exact fossil pictured
• Genuine Whitby Lower Jurassic ammonite specimen
• Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card
• A unique piece of the Jurassic seas preserved in stone

A Classic Whitby Ammonite Fossil

An Androgynoceras ammonite from the Maculatum Subzone is a timeless collector’s fossil — scientifically meaningful, visually striking, and sourced from one of Britain’s greatest Jurassic fossil localities.