Beudanticeras newtoni Fossil Ammonite Gault Clay Aptian Cretaceous Folkestone Kent UK

Description

Genuine Beudanticeras newtoni Fossil Ammonite from Folkestone, Kent

This listing offers a rare and authentic Beudanticeras (Beudanticeras) newtoni fossil ammonite, sourced from the famous Gault Clay Formation at Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom. The specimen dates to the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous Period, approximately 125–113 million years ago, making it an important piece of natural history. The fossil has been carefully chosen for its preservation and detail, with photographs showing the exact ammonite you will receive. A Certificate of Authenticity is provided with every purchase, ensuring its genuineness as a natural fossil.

Geological Context – Aptian Stage, Gault Clay Formation

The Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous was a time of dynamic environmental change, with rising sea levels creating broad, shallow seas across Europe. The Gault Clay Formation at Folkestone is one of Britain’s most celebrated fossil localities, renowned for its exceptional preservation of ammonites and other marine fauna.

This fine-grained marine clay was deposited in a relatively deep-water setting, where low-energy conditions allowed delicate shells to settle undisturbed, often preserving their fine surface details. The Gault Clay has long been studied by geologists and paleontologists as a key stratigraphic unit for understanding the Early Cretaceous, and ammonites such as Beudanticeras newtoni serve as crucial biostratigraphic markers within these layers.

Species Overview – Beudanticeras (Beudanticeras) newtoni

The genus Beudanticeras belongs to the Order Ammonitida, within the Superfamily Desmoceratoidea and the Family Desmoceratidae. Beudanticeras newtoni is a highly recognisable species due to its distinctive shell features, including:

• Smooth to weakly ornamented whorls, differing from the heavily ribbed forms of other ammonite genera.
• A compressed, discoidal shell form with a narrow umbilicus, giving it an elegant and streamlined appearance.
• Complex suture lines, typical of ammonites, which record the internal septal divisions of the shell.
• A morphology adapted to an active nektonic lifestyle, allowing it to move efficiently through the mid-water column.

Ammonites such as Beudanticeras were fast-moving marine predators or opportunistic feeders, preying upon small crustaceans, molluscs, and planktonic organisms in the warm seas of the Early Cretaceous.

Stratigraphic and Scientific Importance

Beudanticeras newtoni is a species of considerable stratigraphic importance in the Aptian stage, often serving as a valuable index fossil. Its relatively short temporal range, combined with its distinctive morphology, makes it an excellent tool for correlating rock layers across southern England and beyond.

The Gault Clay fossils of Folkestone are world-famous, and specimens of Beudanticeras from this locality are highly prized by collectors and researchers alike. They provide insight not only into ammonite evolution but also into the paleoenvironments of Early Cretaceous Europe.

Provenance and Classification

• Genus: Beudanticeras (Beudanticeras)
• Species: newtoni
• Age: Aptian, Early Cretaceous (~125–113 million years ago)
• Formation: Gault Clay
• Locality: Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea
• Family: Desmoceratidae

Collector Value and Authenticity

This specimen represents a rare opportunity to own a genuine ammonite from the world-renowned Folkestone Gault Clay, a location celebrated by fossil enthusiasts for centuries. The fine details of Beudanticeras newtoni make it an excellent collector’s piece for those with an interest in ammonites, Cretaceous paleontology, or the geology of the United Kingdom.

Every fossil we supply is 100% genuine, carefully sourced, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. This guarantees that the ammonite you receive is an authentic specimen, preserved for over 100 million years and now available for collectors, students, and enthusiasts to treasure as part of the Earth’s prehistoric record.