Description
Binatisphinctes binatus Ammonite Fossil from Vienne, France
This is a genuine Binatisphinctes binatus ammonite fossil from the Middle Jurassic, Lower Callovian stage, collected from Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. This carefully chosen fossil is a desirable European Jurassic marine cephalopod specimen, selected for its natural form, geological interest, and collectable display appeal. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it a trusted addition to an ammonite collection, fossil cabinet, educational geology display, natural history collection, or prehistoric gift selection.
The photograph shows the actual fossil specimen you will receive. Full sizing and scale can be seen in the photo.
Geological Age and Locality
This ammonite dates to the Lower Callovian, part of the Middle Jurassic Period, approximately 166 million years old. The Callovian was an important interval in ammonite evolution, with many diverse and highly ornamented ammonite groups spreading through the warm seas of Europe. Ammonites from this stage are especially valued because their distinctive forms help geologists date and correlate Jurassic marine rock layers.
The specimen comes from Vienne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, an area associated with fossil-bearing Jurassic sedimentary rocks. During the Middle Jurassic, this region formed part of a broad marine realm connected to western European seaways and the ancient Tethys Ocean. These seas deposited limestones, marls, clays, and shell-rich sediments that preserved a wide range of marine fossils, including ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, echinoids, crinoids, fish remains, and other prehistoric sea life.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is identified as Binatisphinctes binatus, an extinct ammonite species from the Lower Callovian. Ammonites were marine molluscs related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. They had hard external shells divided internally into chambers. The living animal occupied the outer body chamber, while earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing the ammonite to move through the water column.
Binatisphinctes belongs to the perisphinctid ammonite group, a major Jurassic lineage known for evolute coiled shells, visible inner whorls, and strong ribbing. Perisphinctid ammonites are among the most recognisable Jurassic ammonites and are widely collected for their attractive spiral form, detailed ornament, and scientific importance.
Morphology and Notable Features
Binatisphinctes binatus ammonites are appreciated for their classic Jurassic appearance and well-defined shell architecture. The shell is typically evolute, meaning the earlier whorls remain visible around the central umbilicus. This gives the ammonite a bold, open spiral form that is highly attractive for display.
A notable feature of this group is the ribbing across the shell. The ribs may extend across the flanks and divide as they approach the outer whorl, creating a textured pattern that records the growth of the animal’s shell. This ribbed ornament is one of the key visual traits that makes perisphinctid ammonites popular with collectors of Jurassic fossils.
The internal shell was divided by chamber walls known as septa. Where these septa met the outer shell, they formed suture lines, which are important in ammonite classification. Even where sutures are not fully visible, the whorl shape, ribbing, shell proportions, and overall form preserve valuable evidence of the ammonite’s biology and ancient marine environment.
As a genuine fossil, this specimen may show natural matrix, mineralisation, fossil shell texture, colour variation, weathering, small chips, cracks, or areas of natural wear caused by fossilisation and geological history. These natural characteristics are normal for authentic fossils and add to the individuality of the piece. The photo shows the exact specimen being offered, allowing the buyer to view its preservation, condition, size, and display quality before purchase.
Middle Jurassic Marine Environment
This Binatisphinctes binatus ammonite lived in the warm marine waters that covered parts of France during the Lower Callovian. These ancient seas supported a rich ecosystem of swimming cephalopods, fish, and seabed-dwelling invertebrates. Ammonites were active swimming or drifting animals, likely feeding on small prey in the water column using tentacles.
After death, the ammonite shell could settle onto the seabed and become buried by sediment. Over millions of years, mineralisation, compaction, and geological change transformed the shell and surrounding sediment into fossil-bearing rock. This fossil is a direct link to the Middle Jurassic seas of France, when dinosaurs lived on land and ammonites flourished in the oceans.
Authenticity and Collectability
This Binatisphinctes binatus ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen from Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, dating to the Lower Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. It is suitable for collectors of French fossils, Jurassic ammonites, Lower Callovian fossils, Middle Jurassic marine fossils, European fossils, natural history specimens, educational geology pieces, and display fossils.
This carefully selected fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, and the fossil shown in the photo is the actual specimen you will receive.
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