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Astracanthus Hybodont Shark Tooth Fossil | Faringdon Sponge Gravels | Jurassic-Cretaceous | Oxfordshire UK | Genuine Specimen
Astracanthus Hybodont Shark Tooth Fossil | Faringdon Sponge Gravels | Jurassic-Cretaceous | Oxfordshire UK | Genuine Specimen - Image 2

Astracanthus Hybodont Shark Tooth Fossil | Faringdon Sponge Gravels | Jurassic-Cretaceous | Oxfordshire UK | Genuine Specimen

Original price was: £36.00.Current price is: £32.40.

This listing is for a genuine Astracanthus hybodont shark tooth fossil, discovered in the renowned Faringdon Sponge Gravels, a fossil-rich deposit located at Wicklesham Pit, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK. These gravels are known for containing a unique mix of reworked marine fossils from the Jurassic that were redeposited into Cretaceous (Aptian) sediments.

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

  • Locality: Wicklesham Pit, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK
  • Formation: Faringdon Sponge Gravels (reworked)
  • Primary Origin: Jurassic, likely from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Late Jurassic)
  • Reworked Into: Lower Cretaceous, Aptian Stage (~125 to 113 million years ago)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine channel lag deposit with high-energy reworking, rich in sponges, echinoids, brachiopods, and vertebrate remains

Fossil Type & Species:

  • Type: Fossil Shark Tooth
  • Genus: Astracanthus (a form genus associated with dermal denticles or teeth of hybodont sharks)
  • Order: Hybodontiformes
  • Superfamily: Hybodontoidea
  • Family: Hybodontidae

Morphological Features:

  • Tooth form typically features blunt cusps with robust structure, suited for crushing shelled prey (durophagy)
  • Ornamentation may include ridged or striated surfaces, depending on position in the jaw and preservation
  • Characteristic dark brown to black fossil enamel

Notable Details:

  • Hybodont sharks were dominant in Mesozoic marine and freshwater ecosystems and represent a now-extinct lineage of elasmobranchs
  • Fossils from the Faringdon Sponge Gravels are particularly valued for their preservation and geological complexity
  • Astracanthus remains are less common than other vertebrate material in these gravels, adding rarity to this piece

Biozone:

  • While precise biozonation is complicated due to reworking, the tooth likely originates from the Kimmeridgian or earlier and was re-deposited into Aptian strata

Specimen Specifics & Scale:

  • Scale Rule Squares/Cube = 1cm — See listing photo for accurate sizing
  • You will receive the exact specimen shown, hand-picked for quality and completeness

 

Certification & Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Ethically sourced and professionally curated, this specimen makes an excellent addition to any fossil or palaeontology collection.

 

A fine opportunity to own a rare Astracanthus Hybodont shark tooth from the famous Faringdon Sponge Gravels, where Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds collide in a single fossil.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: VF0332 Category:

Description

This listing is for a genuine Astracanthus hybodont shark tooth fossil, discovered in the renowned Faringdon Sponge Gravels, a fossil-rich deposit located at Wicklesham Pit, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK. These gravels are known for containing a unique mix of reworked marine fossils from the Jurassic that were redeposited into Cretaceous (Aptian) sediments.

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

  • Locality: Wicklesham Pit, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK
  • Formation: Faringdon Sponge Gravels (reworked)
  • Primary Origin: Jurassic, likely from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Late Jurassic)
  • Reworked Into: Lower Cretaceous, Aptian Stage (~125 to 113 million years ago)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine channel lag deposit with high-energy reworking, rich in sponges, echinoids, brachiopods, and vertebrate remains

Fossil Type & Species:

  • Type: Fossil Shark Tooth
  • Genus: Astracanthus (a form genus associated with dermal denticles or teeth of hybodont sharks)
  • Order: Hybodontiformes
  • Superfamily: Hybodontoidea
  • Family: Hybodontidae

Morphological Features:

  • Tooth form typically features blunt cusps with robust structure, suited for crushing shelled prey (durophagy)
  • Ornamentation may include ridged or striated surfaces, depending on position in the jaw and preservation
  • Characteristic dark brown to black fossil enamel

Notable Details:

  • Hybodont sharks were dominant in Mesozoic marine and freshwater ecosystems and represent a now-extinct lineage of elasmobranchs
  • Fossils from the Faringdon Sponge Gravels are particularly valued for their preservation and geological complexity
  • Astracanthus remains are less common than other vertebrate material in these gravels, adding rarity to this piece

Biozone:

  • While precise biozonation is complicated due to reworking, the tooth likely originates from the Kimmeridgian or earlier and was re-deposited into Aptian strata

Specimen Specifics & Scale:

  • Scale Rule Squares/Cube = 1cm — See listing photo for accurate sizing
  • You will receive the exact specimen shown, hand-picked for quality and completeness

 

Certification & Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Ethically sourced and professionally curated, this specimen makes an excellent addition to any fossil or palaeontology collection.

 

A fine opportunity to own a rare Astracanthus Hybodont shark tooth from the famous Faringdon Sponge Gravels, where Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds collide in a single fossil.

Additional information

Era

Cretaceous, Jurassic
Origin

United Kingdom

Cretaceous Information

The Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago) was the final era of the Mesozoic, marked by the dominance of dinosaurs and the rise of flowering plants. It had a warm, greenhouse climate, with high sea levels that created vast shallow inland seas. Marine life flourished, including mosasaurs, ammonites, and rudist reefs, while the land was ruled by iconic dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Spinosaurus. Mammals and birds diversified, and insects thrived. The period ended with the mass extinction event, likely caused by an asteroid impact, wiping out the dinosaurs and paving the way for the rise of mammals in the Cenozoic.

Jurassic Information

The Jurassic Period (201–145 million years ago) was the golden age of dinosaurs, with iconic species like Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus dominating the land. It was a time of warm, humid climates, with high sea levels that created vast shallow seas, supporting abundant marine reptiles, ammonites, and early coral reefs. The first birds, such as Archaeopteryx, evolved from small theropod dinosaurs, while early mammals remained small and nocturnal. Lush forests of cycads, conifers, and ferns covered the land, providing food for giant herbivores. The breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea accelerated, shaping Earth's geography and setting the stage for the diverse ecosystems of the Cretaceous.

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